Finish for kitchen benchtop

[WoodyNZ]

Have just made an Oak kitchen island benchtop for a client. They wanted something water repellent and food safe that they can directly prepare food on. So I went with some of this (the clear matt version):
Top Oil for Benchtops - interior wood finishes - Osmo NZ Polyx (Hardwax) Oil and other natural wood finishes (http://www.osmo.co.nz/timber-finishes/interior-wood-finishes/top-oil-for-benchtops/)

Unfortunately it doesn't do a great job of repelling water, and stains seem to show up easily. So I want to go over it with something else.

I have previously used cabots oil based flooring polyurethane for a laundry benchtop and it did a great job of repelling water, so I'm thinking of that for this benchtop. I'm just not sure if it's food safe, or how it will show up with knife marks etc when you're cutting on it.

Another option is a shellac, although I haven't used shellacs before so don't know too much about them.

Any suggestions for a food safe, hard wearing, water repellent benchtop finish? Preferably something I can grab at Bunnings, Mitre 10 or PlaceMakers in NZ as time is of the essence now.

[david.elliott]

I use up to 5 coats of floor poly, and wet sand inbetween...the US one I bought last time was dry in 2 hours...brilliant.

Not specifically food safe but then who in their right mind prepares food directly on the benchtop...

[LGS]

You could try Organoil Hard Burnishing Oil. I've been using a Blackwood prep station done with this for preparing food, both on the bench, or on a Blackwood block cutting board. The bench I've used for 12 years now. No resurface, no stains and still looks like a new finish.Great stuff. I put boiling hot pots directly on to the bench, no marks, I put many different food types and colours, no stains, wipe the bench and board clean using Spray and wipe, no damage. for 12 years.

Here is a Coffee table I did around 2006. I asked the owner recently if she wanted it refinished. I got an emphatic "No, it's fine!!"

You can see the method at http://www.damfinefurniture.net.

Regards,

Rob

[AngelaPetruzzi]

If you are still contemplating a product that is food safe, the Livos Countertop oil is certified food safe. It is a natural penetrating oil so it would not be able to be used on top of the osmo. Whatever you use if you do not completely sand back, make sure from the osmo supplier that it will be compatible. otherwise, if you do have rejection issues, it will have to be sanded back.