From Barrel to Butcher Block - Explained || Woodworking

I take some barrels apart, repurpose the wood into a solid oak chopping block and explain how and why I do the things that I do. In this video, I'll go over how I mill up barrel lumber, my thoughts on using oak in cutting boards, tips for sanding end grain and a whole lot more. If you'd rather watch this build come together without listening to me talk and just the sounds of woodworking then check out the other video I did on this build; link below. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments. Time stamps included below for skipping to a certain part.
Final dimensions of the block: 18" x 24" x 3" thick
Weight: 46 lbs.
Total hours to build & film: 40
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3D Patterned Coffee Table
y2u.be/npjxCYLcuFs
From Barrel to Butcher Block
y2u.be/uiu0Hkd6mb0
3D Patterned Cutting Board
y2u.be/Jrh_g79Rzh0
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Shelter Point Distillery: shelterpoint.ca/
Wood Wax: www.bumblechutes.com/
Custom Branding Irons: brandingirons.com/
And some links to products used in this video:
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Clark's wax/oil foam applicator: amzn.to/3ILm8IF
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Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2XCxT1q
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*As an Amazon Affiliate member, I earn a small commission on each qualifying purchase.
0:00 Intro
0:53 Barrel Dismantle
3:05 Milling - Miter Saw
3:55 Milling - Jointer
4:28 Milling - Planer
5:30 Milling - Miter Saw - Trimming Staves
6:16 Moisture Content
7:24 Milling - Table Saw - Squaring Stave Sides
8:34 First Glue Up
10:48 Planing Glued Up Panels
11:25 Second Glue up/Thoughts on Gluing Both Faces
13:02 Belt Sanding Panels
14:00 Using Bandsaw to Square Edges of Panels
15:02 Crosscutting End Grain Strips
15:53 Thoughts on Oak in Cutting Boards
18:04 Final Glue Up
21:18 Flattening
23:13 Using Bandsaw to Trim Edges
24:30 Juice Groove/Chamfer
26:27 Starbond Glue
27:00 Sanding/Thoughts on Sanding End Grain
28:16 Branding Iron
29:44 Oil
30:28 Wax/Finale

[@danlindey7368]

I was surprised at the amount of moisture that came out when you drilled the holes for the handle. I definitely would like to see a one year follow up. Keep the content coming. You build some beautiful cutting boards.

[@ryanhawkins]

Thanks Dan, will do!

[@paulstuder9432]

Very nice explanation and thanks for some humorous video clips. Well done!

[@lifeeventslegalplan]

Enjoying the voiceover...picked up some nice tips!!

[@jonny9884]

Well, I had seen and 'Liked' your first non-narrated video, but even more grateful for this one. Thanks for putting it together and up-loading it onto KZbin. For a couple months now, I've been looking into wood cutting boards. One I've had my eye on since the beginning of this endeavor is a Finnish made white oak end grain large sized cutting board with a blood/juice groove. After your comments about white oak end grain, especially regarding its appearance, I'm even more confident that this will become my latge sized cutting board. Also, love the metal handles. For a beast of a cutting board that thick and large, I believe they are necessary, practical, and look quite good, too !

[@ryanhawkins]

Glad this one was of value to you!

[@mariushegli]

I think this is the most beautiful butcher block I've ever seen. And I LOVE this style of video with lots and lots of explanation. Thank you!

[@ryanhawkins]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@madziar160]

Love it. I watched both versions of this video, both are amazing but this one taught me so much. I am absolutely grateful that you share your knowledge in such detail as opposed to keeping it a secret like your life and career depended on it. I have met lots of woodworkers like that and your approach is like a breath of fresh air. Thank you again.

[@ryanhawkins]

You’re most welcome, I’m glad you got value out of them!

[@theBoonarmies]

use those barrel heads to make viking shields. they're already round, just add the appropriate hardware and dressings to them, and you're set.

[@TheChainsawKid]

Amazing video! One product I found to be very helpful while working in a woodshop is Festool Sponge sand paper, It's amazing and can be reused hundreds of times. After using it, i threw out all of my old "sand"paper and replaced it with the 50 cent sheets.

[@ryanhawkins]

Great tip!

[@selmaengelbrecht2235]

Absolutely awesome!!

[@richardlaymance9984]

It’s beautiful

[@oficinamadeirabruta1314]

Muito bonita a tábua parabéns

[@andylong6589]

this project will be a goal of mine. love Bourbon

[@artist2PI]

Your explanations are so good! I learn something every time I watch. Also you are one of the most creative of the woodworkers I watch. Thank you for taking the time to teach!

[@1959dnh]

Nice work Ryan! Keep the content coming!

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@isnomeconsciousness4775]

Excellent, clear commentary for a passionate project. Well done!

[@ryanhawkins]

Thanks!

[@Oenophilosopher]

We’re almost at a year.. would love to see the update! Amazing work.

[@tuttlegreg]

Thanks, so much!

[@Julian-yx4we]

Sho! Can't believe the sheer volume of wood that went into that. Beautiful result and great information in the narration, thanks!

[@ryanhawkins]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@SkyscraperGuitars]

Great work!

[@wlarsen70]

Thanks!

[@ryanhawkins]

🙏🙏

[@patricksmith3135]

Ryan, I prefer this full explanation over a voiceless one. I feel like I now may converse woodworking with my son and daughter who actually do this craft. I get that you channel a lot of money into organic food rather than equipment, but it seem both must be important to you and your success as well as for the good of your family. There must be an easier way to grow some of your own without putting you in more hard labor after woodworking. :) Thanks so much.

[@ryanhawkins]

Thanks for watching so many of my videos!

[@toktaamqhasemy7977]

عالی‌ بود‌... Very good...

[@SUROBLEDEKchannel]

Great video sharing

[@lindewoodworking]

This is one of THE best videos explaining details of end-grain tips and tricks. I just began building end grain and have been puzzled by some issues that I believe you just gave me tips for. Thanks so much. PS: Baby photo update would be great. He’s no doubt getting so big!

[@ryanhawkins]

So glad you got some value out of it! Perhaps I’ll sneak a pic or two of my little guy in my next build video. Enjoy the day!

[@Stubones999]

If you cut a few pieces of vinyl tubing large enough to slip your pipe clamps through. Each section will space off the pipe from the wood and give you a 1/16th inch gap so you don't have the issues with pipe clamp stains. Also, use your compressed air to blow off the squeeze-out glue so you don't have to declamp / reclamp each section. I wonder if flexing the un-cured glue impacts the finished strength! still, I love your work!

[@paulreynolds2066]

I use a 4 inch grinder with an 80 grit flap disc to remove the char side.

[@devinjohnson278]

Love your videos and thorough explanations. One tip for cleaning the charred side of the staves is to use a pressure washer. It's practically dust free and does well to remove the loose material while still leaving enough char for interesting patterns.

[@ryanhawkins]

Great tip! Never would of thought of that.

[@Tukangkayu_ae]

nice job

[@terristroh3965]

Holy guacamole! That’s a nice board! That Elvish symbol is neat too. I’ve recently discovered Bumblechutes and like their stuff so much I’ll probably be switching away from the major brands now. Their shop wax rocks and doesn’t smell like petroleum either.

[@nickberdebes8874]

Absolutely first class work! I really really enjoyed it from the beginning to the end! Thank you. All the best from Montreal Nick Berdebes

[@ryanhawkins]

Thanks so much for watching, Nick!

[@hobiakalsehat901]

Sangat keren👍👍👍👍

[@ComgrowOfficial]

Enjoy your video🥰🥰🥰

[@rickg7235]

That thing is a beast!! Awesome board!! I bet you can get one big turkey on there. 😁

[@negativemann]

Turn the barrel ends into flooring. Triangles or squares or Pentagon's

[@craigesmith4835]

Beautiful piece. I'd love to make one but barrels are way too expensive in Australia to do a board

[@fil232323]

Great Job ;) You should visit the Stunning Madeira Island, Portugal, where we have the Madeira Wine aged for centuries (some of it) in barrels.

[@ryanhawkins]

Oh, I would love that!

[@thichlamuthu2154]

Thích làm đủ thứ.... Chào các bạn thân yêu

[@ianatkinson1973]

Hi Ryan. Amazing work again! What are the white lines between the oak boards Thanks Ian

[@MrCbell57]

I’d be afraid my profit would be minimum and my wear on tools would be maxed out to where the value would never meet up with the sense to actually do this process in the first place. Thank you for showing us why we shouldn’t never do it. Thanks.

[@ryanhawkins]

I figure I would have to charge at least $1500 for this to be worth doing.

[@jeremyhuggins8796]

Awesome job! Can you do an explanation video like this on that 3D cutting board?

[@ryanhawkins]

I think I might just revisit that one.

[@abdullahali5039]

Hi I watched the entire video, and the work is very, very wonderful. I have a question. Is the wood that I used valid? I mean, it was saturated with wine. Thank you I wish you safety and security and a good day my regards Abdullah from the State of Kuwait

[@mattlemons8823]

Excellent video. I have been thinking about making a a table top out of a bunch of barrel heads left from a previous project. I'm interested in the block you briefly showed to demonstrate the problems with the dowel holes. Do you have a video or writeup documenting that build? I've been planning to cut out the dowel or nail holes (some have weird double ended nails of some sort)

[@begoodamerica9793]

I did all three Sub, Bell and Thumbs up.. Enjoy watching your videos

[@ryanhawkins]

Thank you my friend!

[@cjgetreal]

12% moisture content should be fine for your location. 6% is more for a desert location. You are adding a significant amount of moisture to the project with all that glue.

[@miketabar2327]

Woops. I Heard that "God D!??>t" after you mentioned the amazon link. I typically go for the harsher words when I make a mistake. Nice job on the board.

[@ryanhawkins]

Haha, I didn't even catch that, nice hearing! That part took me a few takes to do, guess it's part of the experience now :)

[@miketabar2327]

@@ryanhawkins Soundcore earbuds. Two additional things. I am making cutting board 2 and 3 and I have noticed the bow you mentioned in this video. Bummer. The second is have you found d the CA gap filling technique to be brittle with board movement? Thanks. Great video.

[@mlbuxbaum]

was that board made with the staves from barrels

[@ryanhawkins]

Yes

[@woodworkingandepoxy643]

People that complain about oak in cutting boards know zero about history and even modern day considering boats are made from oak and have been for many years. It's a great wood for its antimicrobial properties too. So how's it holding up a year later

[@alexanderhedin4005]

love how you whispered god damit

[@ryanhawkins]

Haha, still can’t believe I missed that.

[@neiljackson1195]

Hey how’s this board holding up??

[@ryanhawkins]

Pretty good! I keep meaning to do an update video on it.

[@erictempleman5502]

Those handles 🤔

[@troyqueen9503]

Hello from Cowichan Bay.👍📐