I've picked up ~ 100 bd ft of 100 year old oak 4/4 8" wide boards that are going to be used to 1) hide a steel beam that is holding up one end of our late Victorian, and 2) replace the awful laminate kitchen counter tops.
Looking for suggestions for finish on the counter tops (beam boards are being left rough).
We're looking for something durable (able to withstand lots of wipe downs - cats know to stay off the counters when we're cooking, but no way they stay off 24/7) and relatively low maintenance. Cutting boards will be used for actual food handling.
Don't know yet whether or not we'll be staining the oak - that'll depend on what the boards wind up looking like once they get worked from rough swan to smooth.
We'd rather not have an uber glossy shine, but if the most workable answer is a resin type finish (thinking wooden bar tops that get constantly wet) we'd be ok with it.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Brand names? Process tips & techniques?