Kitchen Worktops!! Oil it or varnish it???

[Andoo]

Advise required!! I've finally fitted my new kitchen!! units in, work tops in, had a few problems on the way (who doesn't!!) the problem is half my friends are advising me to Oil the tops the others (including the guy who sold me the kitchen!) are saying I should varnish it.
The units are slab gloss white and the tiles are going to be the brick style gloss white so I want the tops which are solid block oak to be fairly dark in colour so I plan to stain them first with a dark oak or dark teak stain. I then want the finish to be as matt as possible otherwise its all gonna be to shinny!!! the last thing I want is it looking like a slab of toffee!!

I know the oiling will take more maintance but thats the only differance and if I do go down that route any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Trazor]

You should have oiled the surface and all edges 3 times BEFORE installing.

Where you have end cuts/joins, these will be unprotected, and will cause short/long term problems due to moisture getting in.

You really need to remove your worktops, and seal the ends before proceeding......

 

[Scrit]

Varnish is dreadful stuff, crazes and chips over time. Yuk! Agreed with the previous poster - you need to pull the worktops out again, stain then oil them (3+ coats, top, bottom and all edges, especially around any cut-outs and taps) before reinstalling them. Leave them in without sealing the edges/backs and they'll give problems in the long run

Scrit

 

[Andoo]

Cheers guys, will take your advise and pull them out and make sure I do a proper job (we've managed without a kitchen for a month one more week won't matter!!)
Now it looks like i'm going down the "oil it" route are there any on the market that will give me a matt finish and are all interior oils suitable for work tops????

 

[Scrit]

If you do find your oil finish going a little shiney for your liking you can always flat it back a bit using a Scotch grey (fine) denibbing cloth (they look like a fine version of green Scotchbrite cloths you see in kitchens and are available from car paint places and Machine Mart - own brand)

Scrit