Replies

1. 
   beasleysevin | Feb 28, 2021 06:46pm | #1

   You have lots of options. My faves for an island would be tung oil or osmo. Both spot repairable and easy to use. Both resist spills. Osmo will cure a little faster. As an added bonus, both are food safe.

2. 
   mikaol | Feb 28, 2021 07:09pm | #2

   One thing, tung oil won't darken the wood. I prefer pure tung over Osmo, but we all like different finishes.
   Mikaol

3. 
   _mj_ | Feb 28, 2021 07:39pm | #3

   When you say "butcherblock" is it endgrain or "bowling alley"?

1. 
   Signpost | Feb 28, 2021 09:33pm | #4

   I think it's endgrain. Bought it from menards.

   
1. 
   john_c2 | Mar 01, 2021 04:37am | #6

   Bowling alley. Long grain, not end grain.

4. 
   hoovermd | Feb 28, 2021 10:21pm | #5

   I've heard that soaking in a tub of mineral oil for a week works...

5. 
   _mj_ | Mar 01, 2021 09:02am | #7

   In the kitchen it will get wiped down wet and be subject to spills. Tung oil will absorb a bit and can be built to a film finish. I'd suggest getting to an "almost" film finish to allow for renewing it easily. Any finish will darken the wood a bit, so test on the back. Tung oil comes in colored formulations if you want to add a tone.

6. 
   stantheman | Mar 01, 2021 09:06am | #8

   So, no cutting or eating, but likely getting wet, scratched, and hot things put on it? I'd be looking for something more than an oil finish.

7. 
   Mike_H3 | Mar 01, 2021 10:13am | #9

   I use Boos Block Oil on my maple counter top at home.
   https://www.johnboos.com/care.asp

8. 
   hotdogman | Mar 01, 2021 10:38am | #10

   I built a large kitchen island out of maple and didn't need to use anything nouveau or exotic. Give you new top a good sanding to at least 180 grit in order to get a smooth consistent surface. I used several coats of a good polyurethane which provides a tough water resistant easy to clean surface. The island top has been in place for seven years and absolutely no problems and still looks great. When I do need to refinish it I will just sand it a bit and put some more coats of poly on it. You can pick the kind of sheen you want also.