AJB Temple
Finely figured
I have refurbished an 1886 (it is date stamped and signed) French, very nice commercial butchers block, all solid maple end grain. Having been in storage in a Chateau for over a century it has had minimal use (no dishing) and the sides surrounding the end grain blocks are beautiful birds eye maple. The block is small: about 28 " square and 8" deep, with three compression bars one way and two the other way. I can lift it on my own, but not easily. This is relevant to flipping it.
It is mounted on a frame, probably beech, which I have raised by fitting a bottom board to the legs and four pairs of double, locking wheels, to move it around.
The block is double sided. Having now been refinished and thoroughly mineral oiled, the block will slide easily off the frame. Hence my problem. A heavy block landing on my toesies does not appeal. As it did not previously have wheels, it never moved around. But now, with everything slickly oiled, the top will slide off the stand in a trice. I will use it in my new kitchen every day and it will be rolled around several times a day.
So I am looking for ideas to fix the top in place. I want to be able to flip the top regularly. Hence I would prefer not to use screw in brackets or anything that makes big holes in whichever face is pointing downwards. The block overhangs the frame by about an inch all around so a lip on the frame would be inelegant.
Does anyone have any bright ideas for a solution? I have considered four sharp points poking into the obverse face from the frame, which leaves minimal marks and will probably be sufficient given the weight. Am I missing something obvious? Maybe rubber pads on the frame would be sufficient?
It is mounted on a frame, probably beech, which I have raised by fitting a bottom board to the legs and four pairs of double, locking wheels, to move it around.
The block is double sided. Having now been refinished and thoroughly mineral oiled, the block will slide easily off the frame. Hence my problem. A heavy block landing on my toesies does not appeal. As it did not previously have wheels, it never moved around. But now, with everything slickly oiled, the top will slide off the stand in a trice. I will use it in my new kitchen every day and it will be rolled around several times a day.
So I am looking for ideas to fix the top in place. I want to be able to flip the top regularly. Hence I would prefer not to use screw in brackets or anything that makes big holes in whichever face is pointing downwards. The block overhangs the frame by about an inch all around so a lip on the frame would be inelegant.
Does anyone have any bright ideas for a solution? I have considered four sharp points poking into the obverse face from the frame, which leaves minimal marks and will probably be sufficient given the weight. Am I missing something obvious? Maybe rubber pads on the frame would be sufficient?
