How to Finish Butcher Block Countertops – Part 2

Butcher block countertops offer a nice warm feeling in any kitchen application. SMW Designs would be glad to craft a custom countertop for you. All of ours are always finished. Should you decide to pick one up at your local hardware store, or even order one online, you might have to decide how to finish it.

As I said in my last article there are several options to finish your countertop. In the first picture you will see a cherry countertop with a mineral oil and beeswax finish. Mineral oil and beeswax has been widely used on butcher block countertops, cutting boards and other wooden utensils. It is easy to make, easy to use, you will need to reapply it often if you want to protect your investment. Mineral oil never really dries, so the good news is that you wont have to worry about lap marks if you reapply it.

In the second picture above we have hickory countertops finished with pure tongue oil, a product offered by Milk and Paint Company. Using pure tongue oil is relatively easy, you simply brush on the product until it stops soaking in, wipe it off, let it sit over night and repeat the process in the morning. Pure tongue oil is a drying oil, it takes about a month to fully cure, when it does it hardens and you get a durable, water proof finish. You will have to do a refresh coat from time to time.

For the final finish in this article we have Rubio Monocoat. This is a two-part finish. First, you mix it with a hardener and liberally apply. Let it soak in for around 20 minutes and then wipe off the excess. This finish works well, however it is a bit more expensive than the other two finishes listed. On this butcher block countertop, I ordered the complete kit which came with an applicator, their brand of wood cleaner, and the Rubio mix. It was applied about a year ago and my customer has not called to report any problems.