You can choose from a matte or gloss finish. If you plan to prep food on your butcher block countertops, look for a food-safe sealer. Using a foam brush, apply sealer over wood surfaces and let dry. Repeat for a final coat..
Table of Contents
How do you finish butcher block?
Should you seal a butcher block?
Cutting against the grain causes fibers to raise up, giving your countertop a fuzzy feeling. Woodworkers discourage cutting on a butcher block countertop for this reason. But, if you believe you may use the countertop as a cutting surface for food, you’ll need to use a food-grade sealant.
How do you seal an unfinished butcher block?
Can I use water based polyurethane on butcher block?
Plus, I do NOT recommend using water-based polyurethane on butcher block countertops, especially if your butcher block is on your main countertops where your sink is located. When water sits on water-based polyurethane, even for just a minute or two, it turns back to that milky white color.
Is it safe to use polyurethane on countertops?
Polyurethane is a durable, resilient varnish that seals and coats wood with a cover that resembles plastic. It is excellent for use as a finish on cabinets and countertops, especially since it is not affected by acidic foods, beverages and cleaning substances.
What do you seal wood countertops with?
Sealer Comparison Chart
| Sealer Options | Stain/Water Resistance | Scratch Resistance |
|---|---|---|
| Monocoat | Very Good | As tough as the wood |
| 2K Poly | Excellent | Good |
| Mineral Oil | Poor | As tough as the wood |
How do you apply polyurethane to a countertop?
Is Minwax wood finish food Safe? Yes, Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is food-safe. If you are applying it to a cutting board, butcher block table, or any kitchen surface that touches foods and beverages directly, then Minwax polycrylic protective finish will be fine for this purpose.
Can you polyurethane a butcher block counter?
Follow these steps to easily waterproof your butcher block countertops with Polyurethane: Sand the counters until they’re completely clean. Vacuum any dirt off the surface and apply a natural stain. Apply a thick coat of Polyurethane, a liquid coating that dries into a plastic.
How do you seal a butcher block countertop after staining?
Dip a clean, dry cotton cloth or rag into the container of tung oil or Waterlox. Then use the cloth to rub the sealant across the surface of the stained butcher block. Work in long, straight strokes that parallel the direction of the boards in the butcher block. Give the sealant a full 12 hours to dry.
Should I sand butcher block before sealing?
Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Waterlox
The company has great instructions on application of Waterlox on their website that are a must-read before using it, but the main steps are to sand the butcher block, clean it with mineral spirits, and then apply 3-5 coats of Waterlox with 24 hour dry time between coats.
Do I need to condition butcher block before staining?
You can purchase wood conditioner at your local paint store. Butcher block is composed of many pieces of wood, each with their own distinct color. Applying wood conditioner before you stain will help all the pieces of wood take on a similar tone once the stain is applied.
Do you have to stain both sides of butcher block?
Food prep, chopping and finishing instructions
Butcher Block Oil or one of our other food safe finishes to all surfaces, top, bottom and all four sides. Allow the oil to absorb into the wood for 2-4 hours, then wipe off excess oil with a paper towel or clean cloth.
Is Minwax wood finish Food Safe? Yes, Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is food-safe. If you are applying it to a cutting board, butcher block table, or any kitchen surface that touches foods and beverages directly, then Minwax polycrylic protective finish will be fine for this purpose.
What can I seal wood with that is food safe? 9 Best Food Safe Wood Finishes
- Shellac. This is a surface sealing, natural finish that comes from the Lac bug.
- Pure Tung Oil. This is one of the few popular “Drying Oils” (I’ll explain what that means below).
- Food Grade Beeswax.
- Carnauba Wax.
- Food Grade Mineral Oil.
- Walnut Oil.
- Raw Linseed Oil.
- Paraffin Wax.
Does tung oil darken butcher block? The dark tung oil I used from Real Milk Paint beautifully darkened the IKEA butcher block. It really provided that rustic farmhouse charm I wanted for our kitchen. Tung oil dries nicely to a matt finish.
Can you permanently seal butcher block countertops?
There are a variety of options for permanently sealing and waterproofing butcher block wood countertops, commonly used in kitchens. When considering sealers, there are two types available: penetrating and topical.
Is there a food safe stain for butcher block countertops?
Watco® Butcher Block Oil + Stain is specially formulated for use on wooden butcher blocks, cutting boards, salad bowls and other wood applications which require a food safe finish. Easy to apply and maintain, it is nontoxic and safe for food contact when fully dried (meets government standards of 21CFR 175.300).
Can you use lacquer on butcher block?
Another method of providing a protective coat to the butcher block is by sealing. This can be done by using lacquer, varnish, or polyurethane. The areas to which you can apply these sealing coats are ones such as cutting boards and counter tops.
Can you use Polycrylic on butcher block countertops?
To answer the question in short, yes polyurethane is food safe for wood countertops. Per the FDA to become food safe it must be fully cured and dried to the touch which ranges in times. The time it takes to fully cure is anywhere from days to a month.
Can I use Minwax polyurethane on butcher block?
Best Polyurethane Finish: MINWAX Fast-Drying Clear Polyurethane. This wipe-on polyurethane by Minwax enhances the appearance of and offers a prolonged lifespan to your wooden butcher block. If you want to provide a durable and an excellent appearance, you can use polyurethane.
Is polyurethane or epoxy better for countertops?
Knowing what each material offers is crucial because each kitchen is unique. However, as far as condition and permanence are concerned, these two components are very similar because of their capacity to withstand heat. Epoxy is a better option than polyurethane if you have a tight budget.
How many coats of polyurethane should you put on butcher block?
Use three or more coats of Polyurethane on a butcher block, especially if you’re applying an oil-based finish.
Can you put polyurethane over butcher block oil? The short answer is “Yes, if it’s the right oil, and you let it dry first.”
What is better lacquer or polyurethane?
Despite being available in variances, polyurethane is more durable. It is thick and leaves a strong coating. Lacquer is thin and penetrates the wood surface. It is also durable but susceptible to scratches and discoloration after some time.
Is tung oil the same as mineral oil? Food-grade tung oil is made by pressing the seeds (often called nuts) of the tung tree. It’s naturally food-safe. Tung oil—which should be labeled 100% pure—is a little more expensive than food-safe mineral oil.
