With the sapele mahogany polished with 2000 grit sand paper, it is time to take the finish to a whole new level: oil!
I used boiled linseed oil to finish the counter for a few reasons:
1st: It is food safe. Food will be in contact with this surface and I would rather not poison myself for the sake of having a pretty counter.
2nd: It is forgiving. If the wood gets scratched, scorched, or damaged in any way, I can simply sand it a little and apply some fresh oil. The oil will keep the wood happy and help hide or heal scratches in the wood.
3rd: It makes the wood water resistant. Oil repels water, so if the wood is saturated with oil, water can’t get into the grain.
4th: It makes the wood shine!
The drastic change in the woods appearance is quickly noted. The grain just pops to life as the oil soaks in.
Quarter sawn Sapele Mahogany with ribbon grain can be polished to accentuate and bring out the golden flecks in the wood.
As the oil soaks in, the wood begins to look a little dry. When the wood is “drier” we simply apply a fresh coat of oil. No sanding necessary, just wipe on a new coat of oil.
Having the wood oiled is great in the galley where water splashes all the time. The oil repels the water and causes it to bead up on the surface of the wood. Here the water is easily wiped off without any issues of water stains or marks left on the wood.
