Treating Damaged Wood Worktops

[smurfchops]

I have wood worktops which I regularly treat with oil. However over the years, where they are used most, they have lots of marks and scuffs on them. How can I get back to the bare wood without damaging it further, so I can start re-treating it again with oil? It looks like it all needs to be freshened up.

[snook]

Hi Judie! Sounds like you might have to sand the area - once it's discoloured I don't think you're likely to get it cleaned up easily. Better take a little of the surface right off. Better still, sand the whole worktop, if you're up for it. Use coarse emery cloth wrapped round a cork sanding block (and a wire brush to keep cleaning the crap out of the paper) and then follow up with finer stuff, finishing up with very fine to put a nice smooth surface on it. Then you can retreat it with oil and have it looking like new again. There's a bit of work involved, but it should give you a nice new surface.

Or, if you have a sander (or you know someone who has one) you could do it that way. I find a rotary sander is really good for this type of job (it has a sanding belt on it), the orbital ones are a bit of a waste of time, IMO. Again, start with a coarse belt, finish with a fine one. And don't forget to use the wire brush to clean the belt Remember, it's a power tool so be careful, but if you are careful you can just hold the brush gently against the belt and run the sander - that cleans it in a few seconds. But be careful!!

Oh, and obviously, if possible, take the worktop right off and do it outside, otherwise you won't get the edges done properly and your kitchen will be a snowstorm of dust.

[smurfchops]

Thanks snook, I will take your advice. I'm a bit worried that when it is sanded it might look worse than it does already. Will the sander go right through all the layers of oil I have put on the worktop over the years?

[snook]

The oil probably hasn't gone that deep into the wood, only a couple of millimeters I'd guess. Dosn't really matter anyway, as long as you get a good flat, clean surface, without defects, the worktops will be in tip-top condition. Then you can slap on a bit of olive oil, let it soak in, wipe it off with, and repeat three or four times. You'll have a beautifully oiled worktop again! It will look a lot lighter, but be a lot cleaner.

[smurfchops]

Can't wait, thanks again. Any more celebrities gone on your island ... ??

[snook]

(Just got back in!) No, looks like the boat�s full now. And I offered �You�re Free to Stay� cards (for any celebs that weren�t entirely objectionable), but it didn�t seem to ring a bell with anyone. Maybe they want them all to, er, go away and give us a bit of peace. I think I�d better charter a few more boats!

About the worktop: I know it�s obvious, but I�ll say it anyway - when you�re sanding always go �with the grain� (i.e. same direction as the lines in the wood, which will almost certainly be along the length of the worktop). If you don�t you�ll be ripping the wood fibres and you�ll make a right mess. Also, don�t go too heavy if you�re using the belt sander � a light touch is all that�s needed. Don�t lean on it! If you go heavy, you�ll end up with grooves all over the place. Let the machine do the work, all you have to do is guide it. Keep stopping and checking by running your hand across the worktop to see if it�s nice and flat. If you take it easy you should have a nice worktop again when you�re done. Have fun! ;o)

[smurfchops]

Well I'll probably get my husband to do it, he's a great DIY-er but was a bit dubious about the worktop, said it might look worse and then he would blame me for asking him to do it in the first place.... So I thought I'd ask my question and then tell him what you all said !