Looking for some info regarding maple counter tops in the kitchen. <!—-><!—-><!—->
Once installed (which look great by the way…) what is the best way to protect them.<!—-><!—->
We don’t cut on them directly (or seriously abuse them).<!—-> <!—->
What precautions should be taken to protect them?<!—-> <!—->
Some folks have recommended applying regular coats of mineral oil (once a month).<!—-><!—->
Others have recommended actual sealants (kind of like varnish) but I am leery of this.<!—-><!—->
What do you think?<!—-><!—->
Replies
The general rule is mieral oil every day for a week. Then once a week for a month. Then once a month for a year. Then whenever the wood seems dry.
Thats the way I was taught.
Except the final, once a year for ever.
Doug
The Boos company has a oil that smeels like a combo mineral oil, linssed oil and who knows what else. that they send with their maple tops. It may be available at some hardware stores also.
There is a Salad Bowl finish that applies like a rubbing oil also that is safe for food prep areas. Enough coats of it can build a surface protection layer.
Then for those who want smooth protection and an isolation sheen - there is polyurethene which will give better protection around sinks, but you should not use a knife around it.
You can also use a butcher paste wax
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"what is the best way to protect them."
Espo,
IF you don't cut on them, several coats of oil based polyurethane can't be beat. once cured, it can be scuffed with a scothbrite pad to look like an oil finish (almost). Should last 50 years with no maintenance providing no knife cuts.
WSJ
I have always used olive oil, in the traditional oil manner: once a day for a week...etc.
Olive oil does not go rancid, get sticky, smell, or create other problems you wouldn't want on a food-prep surface. It will also stand up to boiling-water scrubs, which is the traditional way to clean a wood countertop after heavy food prep.
At home, I use my maple strip counter for direct cutting, too, so it gets scored over time. Every few years I pull it and run the belt sander over it and it comes up looking like new. The oil penetrates quite deeply, and when refinishing like that I find I only need to put a few coats on over the course of a week to get back to a perfect finish.
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
to add to your many fine responses
maple is my favorite counter material so I've used / or heard of most finishes and the one I like the most is one I found at a Lowes
Cutting Board Conditioner from Ribbonwood from Harrison, Idaho
http://www.ribbonwood.comlast month was at a little soiree for a porch we had completed and the owner informed me that they had been putting a coat of penofin ( annually ) on their teak counters I had installed about 6 yrs ago - bout coughed up my merlot
i have a maple counter top and i would suggest from my experience that the area above the dihwasher have some sort of protection seems as the steam from the drying cycle causes the wood to seperate at the glued joints
Well, we just put Lacquer on it.
Wasn't my decision.
But the Boss is the boss, and He's quite experienced.
He said that if it isn't being cut on, It is fine...
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People are entitled to their own opinions; People are not entitled to their own truth.
Jacob