I'd get a super fine sanding block and you can get them sooo smooth. Just re-oil. Can't imagine it would do anything wrong although I'm no wood expert. If there's no finish on them, sanding shouldn't be an issue.

Fine sanding was the option we came up with but we weren't sure if that was the actual problem or not. Hope so!

I would actually take the very finest sandpaper you can find, and lubricate it with the mineral oil or whatever you're using, and sand it in careful, light circles.

If you've ever done decoupage, it's like the final coat.

C.

I wanted to report back and tell you that I sanded my cutting board with 400 grit paper and reoiled. It is sooo much better. Still not smooth as silk, but without the burrs it had before. I think one more sanding and it will be smooth as silk.

Just wanted to pop into this old thread and say how helpful this advice is. I just installed an Ikea solid wood butcher block top in my office kitchenette and was disappointed to find the surface so rough. So, I did a search and found this answer. I'm going to go get some 400 grit paper!

Depending on how rough it is you need to work up to the finer grits or you are just polishing the roughness and not really taking it out. Always go in the direction of the grain. Not in circles as stated above. A random orbital sander is the best way to do this but it can be done by hand.

I wouldn't bother sanding it more. You can use an green scrubbie (wet, no soap) to get very good results in taming the counter. Just use a paper towel afterwards to mop up the yellow stuff - its just sawdust in water - you don't have to vacuum the counter, cabs or anything else. You don't have to strip the oil first but you might want to re-oil it afterwards.

Oh, that sounds good. You mean like a Scotch Brite heavy duty scour pad, right?