Best polyurethane to use on cook surface?

Amanda Bishop
by Amanda Bishop
I made an island cart for my kitchen to put my kurig on, and to use as extra prep space. It is stained 2x4 with wood filler as grout like to fill in between the seams. What is the best polyurethane finish I can put on it that is good safe and matte finish?
  7 answers
  • Charly Charly on Jul 25, 2017

    You would have to put on a sealer that is made for wood and can withstand higher temperatures. Check the cans at Lowe's or Home Depot. Or ask one of their associates. That wood top that you created is beautiful by the way!

  • Cindy Garcia Swistak Cindy Garcia Swistak on Jul 25, 2017

    I would be extremely cautious to just use that as a cutting surface.....there is no safe sealer that would not contain toxic chemicals.......use a good sealer as stated in the comment above but always use a bamboo or bpa free cutting board for prepping food,,,,,,separate one for raw foods.....good luck beautiful piece!

  • Pam Lindau Pam Lindau on Jul 25, 2017

    I would use a good butcher block/bar top finish oil. That is what I use on the cutting boards that we make (and use). Lightly sand until top is smooth, apply oil with lint free rag, wait approximately 20 min, wipe excess with clean lint free rag. Repeat when necessary. Our cutting boards are made from strips of oak from trim pieces we took down when remodeling our mudroom. We made one for each of our son's last Christmas. They helped to put up those trim pieces when we were building our house nearly 30 years ago. They now have a piece of their boyhood home always.

  • Charlotte Morse Charlotte Morse on Jul 25, 2017

    That is very true.

  • Andrew Bounader Andrew Bounader on Jul 25, 2017

    Hi,

    Polyurethane comes in a single mix in 3 gloss levels from flat to glossy, a 2 part or 2pack polyurethane will also come in either gloss or semi gloss. A kitchen topper type paint is usually a 2 pack or 2 part process - used to change the colour of an existing benchtop. So a clear finish should be available, however remember that the surface is softer than stone or other plastic finishes and will mark. The advice about using an oil is very sound however it will / may stain with use, but could be sanded back and re treated, removing polyurethane is a pain in the butt but is possible if you need to refinish it at some time.

    I'd try te local pro paint place or hardwarestore for specialist paints for the job and decide from there.

    As the top looks too good not to finish properly.

    Great work.. love it.

    Andrew

  • Jill Pennell Jill Pennell on Jul 25, 2017

    I have done a lot of wood finishing and the best thing to use is sparurethane. It is for indoor/outdoor and the toughest. You need to put 3 or 4 coats and sand with steelwool between each layer. I like high gloss. It will be a beautiful piece when you are done with it.

  • Christine Carrier Christine Carrier on Jul 27, 2017

    I put tung oil on my butcher block countertops. I love it. It holds up to almost any treatment. I originally put on 4 coats. I'be had it almost 4 years and only touched it up once. You can just sand down any spots and add another coat whenever you think it needs it.