DIY help - staining butcher block countertops

[woowoo]

I bought an unfinished birch butcher block countertop from Lowes for a laundry room counter.  It's not a large counter and will not be in contact with water (ie: won't be around a utility sink or anything).

It's a literal rabbit hole trying to find information about what is the best method to stain/seal.  It seems everyone has a different recommendation. 

Has anyone here done it?  I'm handy with stain, not worried about my abilities, but more trying to figure out the product(s) to use.

Thanks!

[archiethedragon]

Do you want to change the color of the birch or just seal it?

[woowoo]

Jul 1, 2020 8:05:12 GMT -5 archiethedragon said:

Do you want to change the color of the birch or just seal it?

I would love to bring out the variations but don't necessarily need to darken it. 

[archiethedragon]

Jul 1, 2020 14:18:52 GMT -5 woowoo said:

Jul 1, 2020 8:05:12 GMT -5 archiethedragon said:

Do you want to change the color of the birch or just seal it?

I would love to bring out the variations but don't necessarily need to darken it. 

in that case, I would do a natural stain (minwax natural) which will highlight the variations in the wood (test the underside first, if you can), give it a couple weeks to cure and then  a water based satin finish polyurethane.  Could be a brush on or a wipe on poly.   Do 2 to 3 coats.  

But you are right, there are so many different finishes you go with, it drives you nuts.   The above is what I have done, though, and been happy with it. 

[woowoo]

archiethedragon, thank you! Great suggestion.