Bought some Ikea kitchen carts to use as counters

[eLiu]

I bought this at Ikea to use as kitchen counters/moveable island b/c my apt has minimal counter space. i.e. I'll be cooking it. I have cutting boards and such so food won't be prepared on the Ikea surface directly, but I'm sure liquid will spill onto it eventually.

The wood appears to be unfinished. Do I need to do anything to it?

Thanks,
-Eric

 

[helpme]

I have the longer version of that, but I don't think mine is unfinished (has a slight sheen on it). I didn't bother to do anything to it, and it seems OK so far.

 

[nonameo]

Finish it!

Cartality!

 

[LemonHead]

If you do finish it, make sure you don't use anything that is toxic as you will be using it for food prep.

 

[Squisher]

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=3233

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5223

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: Squisher
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=3233

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5223

/thread

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: nonameo
Finish it!

Cartality!

Best post I've read in weeks.

OP, we bought the exact same cart a month ago for the exact same reason. We have not yet finished it and have been doing vegetable prep directly on it, though not meat prep. No problems so far, but the post with the wood oils has me thinking I'll go ahead and get some just to be safe.

But we are only talking about a $60 piece of furniture here. If it gets stained up, I'm not really going to care too much.

 

[eLiu]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

Originally posted by: nonameo
Finish it!

Cartality!

Best post I've read in weeks.

OP, we bought the exact same cart a month ago for the exact same reason. We have not yet finished it and have been doing vegetable prep directly on it, though not meat prep. No problems so far, but the post with the wood oils has me thinking I'll go ahead and get some just to be safe.

But we are only talking about a $60 piece of furniture here. If it gets stained up, I'm not really going to care too much.

Squisher, could you help me figure out how much wood say 16oz of sealant is good for?

thomsbrain, yeah I'm not concerned about it getting stained up or anything. I am concerned about it warping from moisture (since it's multiple strips of wood glued together) because I've had a few cutting boards do that to me. Replacing them would be annoying b/c the nearest Ikea isn't close and I'd have to rent a car or something.

-Eric

 

[Jeff7]

Self-leveling food-grade epoxy.

It'll probably cost more than the cart did, but it (the epoxy) will last a lot longer too.

 

[Aharami]

had that for about 3+ years now unfinished. no problems

 

[Squisher]

Originally posted by: eLiu
Squisher, could you help me figure out how much wood say 16oz of sealant is good for?

I'd say you'd be able to do 4-12 coats depending on how dry the wood is. This stuff really doesn't coat the top, but is absorbed in and then hardens.

Chances are you'll never need to retouch up anything but the top.

I don't think either one will impart much darkening, but the walnut oil might have more pigment.