If you have an old, stained, or slightly damaged butcher block kitchen countertop, you can refinish it to make it look like new again.
The only tools required are sandpaper and mineral oil (a palm sander is optional).
Here are some tips and tricks to refinish the butcher block countertop in your home.
photo courtesy of Josh and Melanie Rosenthal Butcher_block_counter_top.jpgClean the Butcher Block
Clean the butcher block countertop as much as you can using your normal household cleaners or plain dish soap and water.
You may want to use a spatula or other flat tool to remove as much of the finish and other debris as possible without damaging the wood.
Prepare for Dust
Since you will be sanding inside your kitchen, you should prepare your kitchen for sanding dust.
Remove all items from your kitchen that are not inside cabinets. You may want to create a plastic barrier using a drop cloth taped to the ceiling to minimize sanding dust getting into other rooms.
If there is a return air vent in your kitchen, you may want to turn off your air conditioner until you have finished sanding and have cleaned the sanding dust from your kitchen.
Coarse Grit Sandpaper
Remove the glossy finish and any damage or stains from your butcher block using 60 grit coarse sandpaper and a palm sander, if you have one.
Sand only in the direction of the grain.
Make sure to use protective eyewear and gloves as needed.
Replace the sand paper when it becomes coated in mineral oil or gummed up.
Clean the surface with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
Medium Grit Sandpaper
Continue sanding your butcher block using 100 grit medium sandpaper either with or without a palm sander.
Once again, only sand in the direction of the grain and finish with cleaning the surface of the butcher block with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
Fine Grit Sandpaper
Sand the butcher block using 150 grit fine sandpaper either with or without a palm sander to create a very smooth kitchen countertop.
Once again, only sand in the direction of the grain and clean the surface with a tack cloth to remove the sanding dust.
After the sanding is complete, make sure to clean your butcher block very well to remove all of the dust completely.
Do You Want To Leave It Natural or Stain It?
If you want to leave your butcher block in its natural color, then continue on to the next step.
If you want to stain your butcher block, then you need to do a few things before applying stain.
First, applying wood conditioner is recommended to ensure the stain goes on evenly and doesn't get blotchy. You might also want to add a sanding sealer on top of your dried wood conditioner to keep your stain from going on too dark.
Next, apply your stain. Stain should be applied and almost immediately wiped off for the best result - do not allow it to sit on the surface for long periods of time.
Seal It
Once the sanding is complete, apply some sort of sealant. You can choose mineral oil, tung oil, or food-safe polyurethane.
For mineral oil, make sure to use pure white mineral oil #ad and add it liberally to your butcher block countertops. Pure white mineral oil can be found at most larger grocery stores, pharmacies, or home improvement stores. Continue applying the mineral oil until the butcher block no longer absorbs it and then wipe excess off. Make sure to reapply mineral oil to your butcher block countertops every 4 weeks to maintain its finish.
For tung oil, make sure to use 100% pure tung oil to ensure it is food safe.
For polyurethane, once again, ensure that it is food grade. Apply multiple coats for the best result and ensure that you follow the directions for dry time.
