Finish For Butcher Block Work Top

[wewiserangers]

I just installed a nice butcher block work top. I have a little finish sanding to do before it's done. Does anyone know what the best finish would be to use on this for a work top. Polyurethane or maybe Tung Oil, I am really not sure what would last ??????

I will do primarily wood working with a small amount of metal work on it. Nothing real extreme but I want the good looks to last.

Anyone have any suggestions???

 

[jake00]

I used some hardwood floor finish (glitsa to be exact, its hard stuff)

 

[AMarshall]

Tung oil or something similar will be easy to resand and fix later. This is the traditional finish for woodworking workbench tops that get flattened every year or so. It will soak in without building a protective coat.

Poly or any other varnish will form a film that is much more durable, but harder to repair if needed. They will also be a little more slippery since they form a shell, but this is minor.

Both options are valid. Your call, depends on how often you see yourself resanding to keep it looking fresh.

 

[A1an]

Are there certain types of poly that hold up better than others? I seem to recall it yellows and can get somewhat brittle over time.

 

[AMarshall]

Oil based poly starts off being slightly amber and will yellow further over time. Traditional water based poly starts and stays clear. Furniture builders actually like the ambering effect that oil based has - we say it adds warmth to the wood. So we are starting to see water based finishes that are being reformulated to have that ambering characteristic like oil based finishes.

General Finishes Enduro Var is a very durable water based finish. It will have a slight ambering effect and is advertised as being good enough for floors, so it should be good for a working bench surface.

 

[wewiserangers]

Thanks guys. I have some left over Varathane brand poly that I used on my oak floors. I think I may go that route, it's held up great on my floors. I'm not normally hard on my work surfaces so I don't think I will have to sand it down that often. I will try to attach a pic.

 

[spongerich]

Good Stuff is...well... Good Stuff. I used it on a kitchen cart I built at least 15 years ago and I've refinished it only once. It's incredibly easy to apply and surprisingly tough.

 

[Fueler]

I have butcher block tops in my shop. Since it is a working shop I pull them about every three years for a strip and refinish, Get a new shop that way!!
,Anyway the best thing that works for me is some rattle can stuff called MinWax polyurethane. Wears well and cleans well. Picked it up at one of the local home stores.

 

[MAYOR28]

Mineral Oil.

And its food safe!

 

[acamato]

Check out waterlox. http://www.waterlox.com/about/ This is what I am going to use on my kitchen countertops.

 

[jaysonb]

Looks great! If it were mine, I would use the left over poly that you have. Very durable stuff!

 

[66HertzClone]

I used poly urethane on mine when I got them about two years ago, the finish has held up very well. I have four coats on them, first two went down thinned 50% a floor finisher recommended that to me, he claims it penetrates deeper.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Leave it naked, I use mine as work surface. I beat the **** out of things on it. I don't want to be held back by the worry of scratching the finish when I am pounding the **** out of something on there, besides, deep mars and grooves in a work top are the sign of a warrior.

 

[mobetta]

mineral oil. when you wear thru an area, rub some more on.

poly will start flaking off, you'll need to sand and re-finish to get the good looks again.

 

[REAL HOT SCHITT]

Go linseed,danish or tung oil, ...closest thing to organic and the wood gives off a old hardware shop smell.

"mobetta"...also gives a list of downside to poly etc.

 

[formek]

Off topix Where did you get thoes Cabinets?????

I like thoes

 

[formek]

sorry The upper ones