Maple Countertop finish (WaterLox?)

[Paul Mathers]

I am putting in maple counter tops and I was looking for a good finish and I came across WaterLox wondered if anyone had experience with this product,or any other suggestions. Thanks for any advice.

[Todd Pretty]

I've finished a couple of solid maple counter tops with olive oil, rubbed in with 600-800 wet sand paper.... multiple coats and it gives a finish with alot of depth and is not overly shiny. I've heard of issues with natural oils, but I haven't experienced any, and no customers have complained.

I haven't used waterlox, but I have used other Tung oils by themselves and over the olive oil to seal it.

[Jim Becker]

Most folks do not use a film finish on a wood countertop as that raises the need for labor and time intensive refinishing. Typical is mineral oil or a combination of mineral oil and paraffin wax applied hot...pretty much similar to maintaining a soapstone counter like we have. When I oil our stone, I also oil our maple kitchen island.

[Todd Pretty]

Most folks do not use a film finish on a wood countertop as that raises the need for labor and time intensive refinishing. Typical is mineral oil or a combination of mineral oil and paraffin wax applied hot...pretty much similar to maintaining a soapstone counter like we have. When I oil our stone, I also oil our maple kitchen island.

Hey Jim,

What would you classify as a film finish? Are you referring to paint? Or something else?

What does the paraffin wax do, when combined with the mineral oil?

Thanks
Todd

[Jim Becker]

A film finish would be varnish, shellac, lacquer, water born acrylic, etc...these all will scratch and cut and can look bad if water gets under them, such as near a sink.

The mineral oil/paraffin wax combination adds some luster and a little "water beading". You make it hot (the wax needed to be melted), apply it and then scrape of any excess. It's very popular for end-grain butcher blocks, but quite usable for typical maple counter applications.

[Jeff Wright]

I'd also like to know of users' experience with Waterlox. I intend to use wood counter tops (edge grain cherry) in a future kitchen. Especially interested in how often you needed to reapply the coating and how well your wood counter held up around the sink area. Thanks.

[Paul Mathers]

Thanks for suggestions I am goin to try waterlox see what happens