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I am looking at getting a butcher block table top to construct a desk. The maker offers four standard thicknesses: 1.5", 1.75", 2.25", and 3".

I currently use a 1.5" oak butcher block desk table and it is very rigid, I can stand on it (200 pounds) and it does not bend.

So, why would I need a table any thicker than this? Is it purely for looks, or is there some practical reason?

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Appearance and longevity. You can plane down the 3" one quite a few times, but it seems unlikely you'd be using cleavers on your desk. You might want to weigh the price difference between 6/4 and 7/4 against the ability to sand stains and dings out of the thicker one though. That extra quarter inch may add decades of life to the desk in the long run.

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  • Good answer, but the OP needs to consider whether he's likely to ever sand/plane his desk. (It also depends on the finish.) – Daniel Griscom Nov 11 '18 at 12:16

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