"Edge style" (quarter sawn) will be more dimensionally stable.

Unless you have a preference for "plank style" (flat sawn) based on appearance or price, the edge style will be better for an application where the wood is getting exposed to moisture.

Both are equally prone to nicks/chips from cutting. You'd have to go to end-grain butcher block for better resistance to damage from cutting.

I am in the process of finishing my Craft Art DIY counter top. It is edge style. I had if flipped over to the bottom so I could try different finishes on it. Here is a pic with mineral oil.

I ended up staining it and am finishing it with waterlox because I wanted a darker look. There is a finished kitchen just posted today that has a walnut/mineral oil counter that is gorgeous. I'm not sure if it's edge or plank.

I know you're not planning on staining, but here's a pic of our almost finished:

if you are going to cut directly on it wouldn't you want to consider end grain?

I just looked and the kitchen posted today with the walnut/mineral oil finish looks like edge style and was posted by nini804.

JillandMatt's counter actually looks flat-sawn or "plank style" to me. Absolutely gorgeous though.

Thank you everyone for responding. I think I've decided the edge style would be best, as I do plan on really using it for prepping.

Jillandmatt- Thanks for posting the photo. It's always so hard to order something sight unseen and know you will like it! Your top is lovely- you did a beautiful job on it. Can I ask you if it was as they say on their website and pretty easy to DIY? How much sanding did you have to do? I love your top, but it does look like the plank style in the first photo, perhaps I am not seeing it clearly tho. I like both looks, so if mine came like that, I'd be thrilled

Since there won't be a sink there - kitchen is way too small for 2 sinks - I won't be splashing a ton of water on it, just in case water gets on it, I wanted to know what was the best for that.

Nini- I did see your top yesterday when you posted and it is GORGEOUS!! As is the rest of your kitchen. I look at these big kitchens and only wish I could have that. But, alas my old house is what it is! I love the edge finish you have as well, could you tell me what edge that is?

I can tell you that if you are buying the Craft Art DIY and just doing the finish/oil it Really is easy. Read the directions, and don't overlook the "Tips".

The only thing that may take some skill is cutting out a sink. And you basically just need a jig saw (or a handyman) for that.

I did the Waterlox because we wanted it to be waterproof and not ever get white rings or food stains (shes a red wine aholic and I eat a lot of mustard.. overshare?). Mineral oil doesn't resist that stuff at all. They are both oils, so if you are at all worried about water/condensation/durability, I'd go with the stuff they recommend.

The most important things they said to do when I called were to use constant pressure and not stop part way through while you are rubbing on the oil especially on the last coat. They said for the first coat put it on fast and even. The technique is basically just smooth, even, slightly overlapping straight strokes. If my wife can do it (and she wanted to so I let her) I really think most people can. She has no woodworking or even painting experience or anything.

Also, if you do the Waterlox avoid doing it somewhere that the air may be carrying dust or leaves or bugs. If something like that gets in the finish on the first few coats it's ok because you are going to sand it between every coat anyway. But if gunk gets in the finish after you put on the last coat, you can see it in the finished product.

As far as sanding goes, it's seriously just a light scuff/once over. I wouldn't really call it sanding. It comes pre-sanded/smooth. You just scuff.

We went with plank style Black Walnut. She said it looked more like "furniture" which is more "high end". Her words, not mine. I was originally wanting edge for the increased hardness, but it's not actually that much harder as it turns out.

Also, I Seriously recommend going with 1.75" thick. It isn't that much more but WOW. It looks Really substantial. Even I'm impressed when I walk in my own kitchen. There's no mistaking it - it looks like real solid wood at that thickness.

Sorry to have rambled, but we really love ours and I think you will, too.

Best of luck,
Ray

Here is a link that might be useful: Craft Art DIY Instructions

Hey Oldhousegal! My edge is the the #1 ogee. It was funny...the builder and I were here when the walnut top people came to template. Since we have those kind of fancy cut-outs to follow the lines of the island, they were trying to tell me to use a 1/2 bullnose edge. The main craftsman said that it might look "a little gaudy" to have all that going on with my dressy island! The builder totally started laughing since he knew me, and I told the walnut guy that he didn't know me yet...I LOVE gaudy!! The gaudier the better! :)

I can see how our top does look like plank style in the photos, but it is definitely edge... The stips of wood are much more narrow than plack. I will try to get a better picture that shows the strips. I think plank or edge are both beautiful, so you can't go wrong.

I forgot to say that it was very easy to finish. If we had just used mineral oil it would have been super easy! We did not have to sand much at all. Just a light sanding with 320 sand paper and going over it with some tack cloth.