I've got an IKEA KARLBY butcher block countertop in my kitchen that I absolutely love for its natural look and warm feel. Unfortunately, the original IKEA STOCKYARD oil finish isn't cutting it for water resistance. I'm planning to strip it down and replace it with something that will protect it better while keeping that natural appearance. I'm currently looking at three options: Osmo TopOil, Rubio Monocoat 2C, and Waterlox TRUETONE Buff-In Tung Oil Finish (applying three coats as recommended). All of them seem good based on looks, but I'm struggling to know how well they actually perform at waterproofing. So, fellow woodworkers, what have your experiences been? Do any of these stand out as better options, or is there another product you'd recommend for achieving a strong water-resistant finish that still looks natural? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
Waterlox definitely gets a lot of love! From what I've seen, it's better at sealing out water compared to hard wax oils. Hard wax oils might not wear well on countertops — they can look pretty rough, or you'll need to refinish them frequently.
I’m a big fan of Osmo Polyx! I used it on a walnut chair, and it turned out really natural. It's a popular choice for countertops too, so you might want to give it a try!
Just to show you what I did with it, here’s a pic of the chair I finished with Osmo! [screenshot of a chair]