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.

Rhome - your island is exactly what I was thinking of doing! Using the substrate to make it look thicker sounds like such a great idea! How did you attach the DF to the substrate? I was thinking of using plywood - do you think there's a difference in plywood vs mdf? Is the DF t&g? What did you finish it with? Your island gives me such hope - you have a similar sink (mine is a Kohler cast iron double bowl drop in, but I was concerned about the white drop in on the plank counter), and I'll have white cabinetry underneath. I spoke to my dad tonight, as he made the table I grew up with out of leftover flooring. I think I've got him talked into doing it...he's talking about and after that, I could make a coffee table, and a kitchen table, and...maybe you should order more wood. However, that first table wasn't super thick, so we were trying to figure out how to make it at least appear thicker. I'll have to show him your island! Thanks everyone for the advice! Labradoodlemom, I'll check out the other thread. Allison, I was concerned about how to join it when I first thought about this ages ago, but since I'll be using tongue & groove flooring, I think I'll be okay without the biscuits and whatnot. I'd love to find some reclaimed big thick planks like you used, but they just aren't available around here. Thanks again!

We have a counter with about 6 foot run of end cut light color wood that over 20 years old now. I don't use anything. Normal cleaning is with a sponge and water or alcohol and a sponge . Since its light in color a can will leave a ring if is sits wet to long so my heavy duty cleaning is hydrogen peroxide ( the simple grocery store type 3% solution )with a lightly abrasive type sponge. If I have a bad stain I just pore it out and lay a kitchen towel over it to keep it wet ( use gloves it will dry your hands out something awful ) . The counter is used for working with dough and flour. My wife thinks she should use it as a cutting board ( that's why she had it installed ) which is the same to me as dragging fingernails over a chalk board . Please don't use you counter top as a cutting board use cutting boards.

You don’t strip waterlox. As Sophie says, you sand, and you will have to sand a lot. Live with it as is for a bit, then when you’re sure, call your fabricator/installer and tell him what you want. He may be able to use your piece elsewhere, and be able to replace it with unfinished butcher block. At any rate, he’ll be able to plane/sand the piece better and quicker than you can, and he will do it in his workshop saving you a huge mess.