Kitchen bench top - sink area

[eskimo]

is Hard Shellac the way to go..

or would burnishing with oil, ie tung, organoil or danish etc be better

[wisno]

I think PU is the best choice.


Thanks

[J.B.W]

I would go for a 2 pack PU or a hard floor varnish, to keep the water out and dont forget to seal the end grain well with a few extra coats. You could oil it but seal the ends to keep the moisture out with PVA and PU and dont let the water sit on top too long.

[dr4g0nfly]

You don't say but we're assuming you are talking about wooden worktop surfaces.

Sorry but I've got to disagree with all the others, any PU, 2 pack or otherwise, once damaged is a hard make good.

Our worktops are Beech and Danish oiled, several coats were applied before I'd let SWMBO anywhere near the sink and done again every 6 months or so.

So far nothing has touched it.

[Horaldic]

2-pack and various poly finishes are not my favorite things in kitchen benches. Reason being; once the surface is punctured you really have to strip it all back to refinish. A messy job. Also those finishes use some pretty unpleasant solvents, the last thing I'd want around food.
We have a beech work surface in our kitchen. I gave it a few coats of boiled linseed oil before it was put into commission and periodically wipe it over to maintain the surface.

I don't know how a hard shellac finish would go but I'd interested in Neil's opinion.

[eskimo]

I don't know how a hard shellac finish would go but I'd interested in Neil's opinion.

I was hoping for Niel to give his opinion.

The timber is Jarrah and yes its kitchen work...swmbo's area

the existing lacquer is getting very tired and I need to do something real soon...before I begin living in the doghouse.....

[J.B.W]

If you are going to use it as a chopping board then dont use PU, or if you have young kids. Once film finishes are cured fully they wont harm your food, in terms of water and heat resistance the hard poly finishes are best. Oil finishes are great, and if you dont like it most oils once dry can have a poly coat put on top.

[ubeaut]

Have heard of a few people using Hard Shellac for their bench-tops in the kitchen. Haven't heard of any bad reports as yet but that said I'll bet someone can come up with one.

Here's a links to another posts that has reference to Hard Shellac and kitchen bench tops: http://www.woodworkforums.com/f9/ubeaut-hard-shellac-quick-dirty-durability-test-126072/

Cheers - Neil :U