I made for my sister a kitchen island. The top is hard maple built by a local guy.  For finishing we are using mineral oil. (good stuff bought that a woodworking store.) She’s 2 hours away.. So far she says she has put a bottle and half on the wood. She says it seems to raise the grain (my words, she says isn’t smooth). 
 

She’s concerned that the top still isn’t hard.  I’m not sure it should be hard, but I wonder how to know when there’s enough mineral oil in the wood and if she should be sanding/using steel wool in between? She is sanding some with a 220 paper.

Thoughts? Help?

Thanks.