Oiling Wood Worktops in Oak Kitchens
Whilst our solid oak kitchen cabinets come in a maintenance-free lacquered finish, our collection of wooden worktops will require a little more attention to keep them looking fabulous for many years to come.
Worktops are at their most vulnerable before, and directly after installation, so you should take great care when considering how best to protect them from the busy wear-and-tear that is common in oak kitchens. Though there are a variety of options when it comes to the finishing of solid wood worktops, our recommended treatment would be to oil them using Rustins Danish Oil.
Preparing wood worktops for installation
- Our worktops come pre-sanded to a smooth 150 grit finish, but we do recommend going over the worktop to ensure they are as smooth as possible prior to oiling. The most efficient method would be to use a 150 grit orbital sander, followed by a light hand-sanding on the top and sides with the aid of a sanding block and sandpaper of a finer grit. This will help remove any splinters and create a silky-smooth surface.
- Next, wipe the top surface down with a clean, lint-free cloth to remove any dust.
- Now you can begin to apply your first layer of Rustins Danish Oil. We suggest using the foam oiling brushes supplied in our Worktop Aftercare Kit to achieve a smooth, even coating. Exposed end grain may require further coats to fully protect it as it is considerably more absorbent than the surface of the worktop.
- After the oil has been allowed to dry, wipe the surface down with a fresh lint-free cloth.
- Turn the worktop over and repeat the process, applying further coats to the end grain at the same time.
- After the worktop has fully dried (6 – 8 hours between coats), we suggest repeating the process until the top and bottom surfaces have three coats applied, with the end grain receiving 6 coatings.
Please note: We recommend 1L of Rustins Danish Oil per 3M of worktop. We sell this oil in 1L, 2.5L and 5L quantities, starting at £14.99.
Maintaining a smooth finish after installation
- 5 denibbing pads are also included in our Worktop Aftercare Kit. These can be used to rub down all the worktop surfaces and achieve a super-smooth finish. The process of denibbing removes a small amount of oil from the surface, but will create a better finish once the process is complete.
- After rubbing the entire surface, wipe with a clean lint-free cloth and leave the worktop to stand for around 1 hour. Repeat this process until the cloth appears clean after rubbing, and your worktop should now feel incredibly smooth.
- Now you may begin applying the final coats of oil. Use a small amount to start with and spread evenly using one of the foam oiling brushes.
- Once the surface has been fully covered, use a final lint-free cloth to rub down the surface so as to ensure that the oil coverage is as even as possible.
- Leave the worktop to dry overnight, and then check in the morning. If the worktop still feels ‘tacky’ to the touch, then it is not yet dry.
- You may repeat this process as many times as you like during the first few weeks after installation, just be sure not to over-oil without allowing the worktop to dry.
For further information about our worktop installation accessories, please refer to our Guide to Worktop Installation Accessories in Solid Oak Kitchens.
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July 3, 2015 @ 9:45 am
[…] you would like to read more information on oiling your worktops, we suggest reading our Oiling Wood Worktops information guide. Further details on our range of installation accessories can be found in our […]
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July 24, 2015 @ 9:00 am
[…] can read more in our Oiling Wood Worktops […]