Maple platform question

Points well taken.

I just lucked out and bought a very large (21x15x2) European Beechwood board at Home Depot on clearance for $18.95. If you have HD in your area, you may want to see if they are clearing them out. I have a maple board in my system too, and while both boards make a big difference in sound for my CDP and TT, I can't tell the difference between materials.

It is true that commercial kitchen supply places beat WS for some things (I got a stainless steel food prep table for about a third the WS price), but I doubt that is true for Boos Block. Boos quotes $86 for the block Albert mentions, in the neighborhood of the WS price. (As I recall, a 2.25" Boos in that size is around $100 or so) Buying countertop might be cheaper, but you typically have to buy more, as Albert notes, and then there's the labor. I also suspect that the Boos quality is pretty hard to best, at anywhere near the price point. Unless you need a lot of block and very particular sizes, Boos or similar looks a good way to go.

On a related note, Boiled Walnut Oil is an excellent and easy finish for the blocks: dries hard and non-sticky, and brings up the wood nicely. John

Hey folks, thanks for all of the suggestions. I'll check out some of these options.

I notice Mapleshade sells what look like solid Maple platforms. Anyone notice difference between solid wood and laminated blocks? Between vertical grain butcher block and horizontal grain laminated blocks?

Yeah, there's a difference between solid and laminated platforms. The solid wood ones are prone to warping as time passes. There's a reason quality furniture is made from boards that alternate growth ring direction, wide boards have an innate tendency to curl. I know Mapleshade goes on and on about their how their logs are air dried for years and years, and yes, that helps. You might get lucky and the wood will remain stable. I'll take whatever small sonic penalty one may incur and use laminated layup construction myself.