Pine countertops- need to refinish

I really need to refinish my kitchen counter tops, I will need to sand them down, restain but I can't remember what was put on them after that when we built the house 30 years ago. I know it wasn't a varnish. I have always used lemon oil. Right now they soak it up in a matter of minutes & have lost their luster. What do you suggest?

19 Comments

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

@Snow B after you sand them and restrain I would suggest using a polyurethane for your finish. There are many different lusters of poly for how shiny you would like the finish. This will seal the wood, give the counter tops the luster you are looking for as well as restore it to new condition. Murphy's oil soap , or vinegar and water to clean after! Regular cleaning products will dull the finish. Hope this helps!

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
Snow B High Point, NC

I was advised not to polyurethane where I would be preparing food

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

There are poly finishes used specifically for this purpose. Minwax is a good product. I know of many log home builders who use this technique with much success.

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

Maybe this will help...http://www.home-style-choices.com/wood-countertops.html. Hope this helps !

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
Snow B High Point, NC

Thank you so very much

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

Your very welcome!

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

Btw....pls let me know how it all turns out!

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
One Man and A Hammer, Inc. Mentor, OH

Danish Oil

on Jan 05, 2012 · Like 0
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

The best finish that Ive ever had experience with... http://www.waterlox.com/

on Jan 06, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

It is important to allow the finish to properly "cure" In the case of Waterlox...they recommend 24 hrs between coats and 72 to 96 hours after the final coat. The finish will continue to cure for 30 to 90 days. As with all "surface" finishes they are subject to cuts and chipping if improperly used. Penetrating finishes ( mineral oil,wax, etc) rely on the durability of the wood itself to provide "wear resistance" Pine is pretty much at the bottom of that list so a durable surface finish ...»
is the better route for pine.
I've used deft, minwax, and some others the trick to durability is a good cure before use...In many of my furniture projects the final "rub -out" does not happen until a week or two after the last coat is applied .
http://www.waterlox.com/assets/pdfs/counter-...

on Jan 06, 2012 · Like 1
Snow B High Point, NC

I must have worded my question wrong. My house is a farmhouse so I am not necessarily looking for luster although I do need water block. I just want the wood to look and feel like rich, healthy wood, if you know what I mean. I, so appreciate the help.

on Jan 06, 2012 · Like 1
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

As a microbial specialist I had some concerns about using "oil" on counters because of bacterial development so I did some research on the use of oils for counters such as those in kitchens. Here is an excerpt from what I found.
A Cutting Board or Butcher Block Surface needs an oil that can be repeatedly applied to fill the wood pores and repel food particles, liquids and oils. ...»

The oil must be an inert oil or otherwise it will turn rancid. Never use vegetable or cooking oils to treat or finish a cutting surface as in time the wood will reek of a rancid spoiled oil odor.
For initial treatment and continuing maintenance a Pure Raw Almond or Walnut Oil may be used. Mineral Oil from the drugstore may also be used. Nature Oil, is a proprietary blends of these oils, available in Pint bottles.
The site went on to say.
NON Cutting Surface
Butcher Blocks & Wood Tops
For professional spray application:
Conversion Varnish is a excellent choice for wood counter tops that will NOT be used as a cutting surface.
For on site brush application:
Butcher Block type counter tops, especially those containing a sink or stove top are best protected with a film building finish such as the Behlen Salad Bowl Finish (an FDA approved Urethane finish). Wood counter tops that will NOT be used as a cutting surface may also be finished with Salad Bowl finish.
Several coats Must be applied to seal the wood from moisture. The advantage of the "Salad Bowl" finish is an easy to clean stain resistant gloss finish that will retain the new look much longer than an oiled finish.

The link was. http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/butcherbloc...
Hope this helps.

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 1
Harold M Franklin, NC

I'm with Woodbridge on this. If you don't use a food friendly product,for a finish, you can have problems with bacteria. Wood for a countertop in my opinion is not a good choice

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 0
BeckySue, Certified Maste... Lawrenceville, GA

While Snow B seems to have the answer to the question already, I am enjoying the dialogue still! Woodbridge, thanks for the link, I am going to add it to an article that a wrote - thought you might enjoy reading it also? https://designsbybsb.com/2010/08/wood-works... And maybe after Harold reads it, he might be more open minded about wood ...»
tops :)
I personally LOVE wood .. own a maple butcher block island top at home and at our cottage I have Zebrawood. I love having the huge surface to prep our meals! The only time I pull out a cutting board is for poultry. I maintain both regularly with Mineral oil. We never get sick and I have no stains =)

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 0
Snow B High Point, NC

This is incredible- the info I have been given by all of you is just plain awesome. Now we can make an informed decision with confidence. Cannot thank you enough!! Now if I could just have a few of you come down to NC one weekend, we can knock this out in no time

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 1
DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Winston Salem, NC

I'm in Winston-Salem! :) Glad you found what you needed! Please be sure to update us all on how it all turned out!

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

Having worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over dozen years..I am quite experienced...in the rules and regulations of the FDA...in fact I had a few copies of various CFR (code of federal regulations) books at my desk.
The bottom line is the FDA does not "approve" anything they just provide rules and regulations that manufacturers adhere too. ...»

I have also been a woodworker for well over 30 years...any finish sold in the US is considered "safe" when cured. The following link has a nice discussion on it.
http://www.woodturnerruss.com/FSOriginal3a.h...
In practice I treat all of my cutting boards with Mineral oil and apply as needed...it is cheap and readily available...it is so "food" safe you could drink it...tho the laxative properties may have you dashing down the hall if you consumer too much....any residual material "transferred" by a work surface is negligible.
When I have made Turned bowls for food I used a shellac based product and then finish with bees wax.
Non -cutting board surfaces are finished with poly and allowed to fully cure.

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 1
P.j. C Petersburg, IN

On This Old House this week, they brushed a coat of 2-part epoxy on soft wood countertops to harden & seal them. You can probably find the video & information on TOH's website.

on Jan 07, 2012 · Like 0
Doug B Auburn, MI

this doesn't need to be complicated I made pine counter tops a few years ago they have aged great, and all these "health' concerns are really nott o be taken seriously...just use a few coats of mineral at first then every so often....there fine and also look great....ok cheers..

on Jan 31, 2012 · Like 0