Hi all,
House I bought has old butcher block on kitchen island that relocation company sanded but did not finish. Question: what do you suggest to finish it with and where do I get it?
Thanks for the help. Weekend Warrior
Hi all,
House I bought has old butcher block on kitchen island that relocation company sanded but did not finish. Question: what do you suggest to finish it with and where do I get it?
Thanks for the help. Weekend Warrior
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Replies
I've heard people use vegetable oil.
glen
I heard of mineral oil but when requested at home depot, they said they do not and never have carried. I suppose I could use polyurethane but what if someone cuts on it?
You don't want to use vegatable oil as it can turn rancid.Mineral oil or mineral oil mixed with wax is the right way to do it.And you get mineral oil at the drug store (laxative). A film finish (varnish) won't last on a something that you use a knife on and it then it become a real mess.
Bill,
Is that the only real option? The mineral oil from a drug store?
There is walnut oil, which is a "drying" (curring oil).But mineral oil is the classic standard (or nothing at all).
Bill,
Just wipe on with a cloth trying to get as even as possible? Any pitfalls?
mineral oil. you should be able to get a food-safe mineral oil at any drugstore/pharmacy. i believe woodcraft also sells it.
application - once a day for a week, once a week for a month, and then monthly forever after. pad it on with a clean cloth, let sit for a few hours, wipe off excess.
This was discussed recently if I recall. If it is going to be used as intended it seems that mineral oil is the choice. There are some finishes that can make it really beautiful if it is not going to be cut on. I often wonder if the bar finish stuff like you use on the hatch cover tables would work.
I think i would like the option of cutting on it so I guess I should use mineral oil. Where do I get it and are there different types (i.e. shades, finishes, etc)?
Frankie and Bill H said it all!
WW -
You are waaay overthinking this. Mineral oil. Just mineral oil. No bells. No whistles. No colors. No secret sources. Mineral oil. Your local drugstore carries it. 79 cents.
Apply it with a clean cloth. Wait 1/2 hour. Reapply. Wait 1 hr. Remove excess. Allow to dry over night.
You will need to reapply on a regular basis depending on amount of use. Prior to reapplication, clean/ rub down countertop with lemons (cut in half) and coarse (kosher) salt. Wipe off. Let dry. Apply mineral oil. Wait 1/2 hour. Remove excess and let dry overnight.
F
Frankie,
Thanks for the help. I usually overthink everything to get all information. I will sand next weekend and let all know how it went. Thanks again
I had posted this same question a year or so ago. I had tried the expensive specialty oils for butcher block, but wasn't impressed (although I probably didn't use enough). I had tried Butcher's wax and MinWax; neither seemed very durable and weren't easy to apply on unfinished wood. I figured if I sealed the wood first, the wax might work better, so I again sanded it down and applied two coats of a regular sanding sealer. I was surprised at how nice the finish was, and I actually never got around to applying wax. It's been over a year now, and although the finish is starting to look a little tired (I'm speaking of a butcher block table that is used as a kitchen table; all meals with messy kids, their homework, etc.) it still looks pretty good.
I never tried straight mineral oil. Although the consensus here is mineral oil, sanding sealer and a good wax may be another option.