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The panel must be oiled carefully on
top, bottom and sides, giving a special attention to the end-grain area, as the
section that the wood is most likely to absorb humidity through. Each cut or
drill you make in the panel (either for size adjustment, sink cutout or other
purposes) must also be oiled thoroughly. Proterra mineral oil (Hesse, Germany)
is a product that we recommend for kitchen tops applications given that it was
specially designed to come in contact with foods. For situations where there is
a great deal of humidity involved (like sinks, water faucets, etc) the mineral
oil only will not assure the best protection and it is advisable to use
polyurethane or any other similar finishing instead.
With a soft brush, oil the wood generously on all
sides or simply pour a small quantity of oil on the wood and then spread it with
the brush. Let the wood soak the oil for about 20-30 minutes and then remove the
excess with an absorbent paper towel. When the top is first installed, it is
advisable to apply 2-3 successive coats of oil, after which, the oil can be
applied once several months or whenever needed. Every time you sand the area to
remove scratches or cut marks, a new coat of oil must applied.
Maintenance:
In order to keep your wooden top clean, periodically scrape or brush away any
food residues existing on its surface, wash with warm soapy water and dry it
well using either a dry cloth or paper towels. Apply a new coat of oil any time
needed. Alternatively, you can warm up a 1:4 combination of beeswax and mineral
oil until the mixture becomes homogenized and then apply it uniformly on top’s
surface, thus getting supplementary protection against both stains and humidity.
Avoid setting your wood top next to extreme heat sources like stoves unless
there is appropriate insulation between the heat source and the top. Avoid
spilling vinegar on a wood top having a mineral oil finishing, as it can cause
cupping or cracking. Do not use corrosive chemicals or excessively harsh
detergents on a wooden top having a mineral oil finishing, as they can cause
irreversible depreciation.
Repairing:
If properly installed and sealed and periodically oiled, there is no reason that
your top won’t last a long period of time in the same good shape it was when
new. Sometimes however, due to poor maintenance and improper environmental
conditions, some problems might arise; it is our duty, therefore to inform about
these problems and the way to solve them.
· Cupping and warping
Are prone to appear whenever there is a significant difference of moisture
between the topside and the bottom side of the panel. If possible, place the top
on a flat, hard surface, concave side facing down. On the convex side, uniformly
place some fairly heavy objects. It will take up to 12 hours until the panel
will straighten completely, after which, oil it abundantly on all sides.
If it is not possible to manipulate the top, simply apply generously mineral oil
on the concave side until the panels straightens. In this case, however, you
might need to repeat this operation several times to obtain the desired result.
· End splits
Will manifest whenever the panel is placed in an excessive dry environment
without being properly sealed. To repair, mix wood sand with a small amount of
water-based wood glue and fill the cracks thoroughly. Allow 15-20 minutes to
cure, sand the area with a 120 grit sand paper and then oil the top freely.
· Scratches, cut marks and food stains
Can be removed by sanding uniformly the affected area, brushing away the
resulting wood dust and applying a new coat of mineral oil. The finger-jointed
panels can be sanded to a 3/8” depth, while for the continuous lamella panels
and the end-grain butcher blocks, there are no such restrictions.
Tops with a Polyurethane Finishing:
A solid wood surface finished with polyurethane based finishing requires no
maintenance at all. However, scratches, cut marks and other damages will be
difficult to repair; therefore extra care is required.
About the
Author: Adrian Laza,
Lafor Wood Products – 15 + years expertise in the butchers block manufacturing
field; supplier of butcher blocks, countertops, kitchen islands, bar tops and
healthy wood finishing for butcher blocks.
www.hardwoodcountertops.com
www.lafor.ro
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