How to finish butcher block

The butcher block received nothing in the way of “finish” besides regular contact with meat fat. The end grain soaked up enough of that fatty oil over time to bead up when water was applied to it. Even daily cleaning with an ammonia solution didn’t stop the wood from beading water. And now for how to stain and seal butcher block counters…or rather, how not to… The very first thing I did was sand the butcher block down to bare wood using a pad sander, coarse grit sandpaper, and a dust extractor. How to Finish and Install Butcher Block Countertop.

This is a food safe finish that enhances the natural color of your wood. This will help you keep from splitting the ends of the butcher block. Use coarse paper, maybe a 50-grit, to start with, and then end up with 100-grit.

Finish by rubbing in a light application of good mineral oil. A finish stabilizes the moisture content of the block. Without finish , the wood can end-check and warping can occur. If you choose to take delivery of an unfinished butcher block , the quality of the block is every bit as high as our finished block , and as long as a finish is applied immediately, the block will function as intended. The color of the butcher block definitely changes depending upon the treatment that you choose with the Waterlox making the butcher block a deeper, just slightly more orangey color than the mineral oil.

You can find designs and instructions online. Make sure you use hardwoods. Butcher block they are fully reversible so you can flip it over. Butcher just wash and scrape there maple blocks with a. Hi, Terri This is simple to do. Miter the corners at 45d for a good fit.

Attach this support frame underneath the table and use deck screws. Allow dust to settle before applying finish. Plan for 7-days to apply coats and allow for cure times before installing. Tip: There are many finishes available for butcher - block countertops that can be applied depending on how the counters will be used.

If countertop will be used. Furniture Finish , Cutting Board Oil, Wood Wax and more. Apply additional layers of tung oil to the butcher block. It will need several layers of tung oil or Waterlox.

Use the same method for each layer: saturate a clean rag with sealant and then rub it along the surface of the butcher block. Use a clean cloth to remove any excess sealant. Chowhound Cookware, Cutting Board food community. Join the discussion today. If you have an older butcher block that has seen better days, it may be time to refinish it.

Refinishing a butcher block will increase its attractiveness, and the seasoning process will prevent new stains and the absorption of bacteria. The Original Butcher Block Oil Finish is the best product for keeping butcher blocks and wood countertops properly maintained. I go over various ways of staining them, using Dark Tung Oil, why it didn’t work for our kitchen and link to about other posts from bloggers using different things for their butcher blocks. Pour a wax-and-oil finish , like Butcher Block Conditioner, onto the wood and rub it back. Seal Photo by Kolin Smith.

For Danish Oil, wait minutes (same as tung oil finishing), and let dry for at least hours. If you take the time to clean and oil your butcher block about once a month, you can be assured it will last a lifetime. Butcherblock Countertop Finishing Simple butcher - block counters are easy to finish on site with natural finishes.

I know that I will not be using my countertops for cutting or putting food directly on. I am having a hard time picking what to finish my countertops with. Wait minutes, then buff with a clean cotton cloth. How To Oil Butcher Block Countertops with Mineral Oil or. A butcher block countertop with oil finish will require ongoing oiling to protect the piece and will develop a deep rich patina over time.

The first big trick with butcher blocks is to oil them immediately to seal and protect the woo but often nothing happens after that. I recently took a palm sander to our home butcher block and wanted to share how easy it was to resurface and make look like new. Finished butcher block after cleaning and oiling Avoid using these products on butcher block that is used for food preparation: Culinary Oils: Olive, vegetable, and flax oils will soon oxidize and go rancid. The process of how to seal butcher block counters is actually really easy too.

Once you finish the sanding part, the many coats go really quickly. There is a lot of drying time in between but it’s very little active labor. Avoid using cooking oil on your butcher block , as it will usually create an odor in your woo which in turn will be absorbed and retained by food prepared on it. Step - Finish When applying oil to your countertop, use a clean cloth or a sponge.

Start with a clean countertop: Clean countertop surface and remove stains by following the steps in our recent posts. Apply two coats of mineral oil: When your countertops are dry, apply one coat of oil. Watco's specially formulated Butcher Block Oil and Finish allows for easy and safe maintenance of wooden butcher blocks, cutting boards, salad bowls and other items which require a food safe finish.

I said we are NOT trying to build a film. It is nontoxic and safe for food contact when fully dried (meets government standards of CFR 1700).