We are in the process of doing the same thing. There is so little information out there on these things, but I did find this site while researching and it gives pretty good instructions for installing wood countertops. They address the dishwasher and stove issues. http://devoswoodworking.com/Installation.htm We are going to use pure tung oil to finish ours. Food safe and non toxic and water proof. Just make sure it is pure and not from the big box stores if you use this. Boat builders used it for centuries and if it waterproofed boats, then it ought to handle what water there is in a kitchen!

Redstar, My husband has made and installed two lyptus end-grain butcher block countertops for customers. Both families had the countertops made for their island. I have provided a link to his website so you can see the projects. At the top of the web page is an island with no sink. Further down on the page is an island top with a SS undermount sink and follow up pictures after a year's worth of usage. If you will be cutting on this type of countertop, you would want to finish and maintain it with a food grade mineral oil finish. On the top with the undermount sink, the inside cut out edge around the sink was finished with Waterlox as a water sealant. There should be no problem with using an undermount composite granite sink. With the mineral oil finish, dishes sitting on top will not hurt it nor will your crockpot. If you don't plan to cut on it directly, you could have some other finish applied that will seal out water. Hope this is helpful to you. Here is a link that might be useful: Lyptus Butcher Block Countertops

Little late to the rodeo here, and I guess you got the butcher block finished already. When I installed kitchens, we used a product called "Good Stuff" that Bally block recommended . It was kinda an oil based paste that you rubbed in then buffed off. Several coats provided a nice matte finish. Cant attest for how long the finish lasts, but I've never got a call back to re apply.

Thanks for all the replies! I am still figuring out how gw works... I will look for a finish carpenter for this part of the job - I am not sure if they will want to measure or just install... we will see. Just got a quote from John Boos - seriously expensive (I knew that going in but I didn't expect it to be more than granite or marble!) I think we may just do a small piece in butcher block... Now I am worried about color matching cherry cabinet with cherry butcherblock. Will this work?