Walnut slab treatment/finish ?

Preferences - found a small slab for a parlor table base, and what's the wisest treatment. I'll sand it to 600 grit, then apply something to enhance and protect . . . tung oil, Danish oil, mineral oil or just paste wax ? I'm not going to use poly, lacquer or varnish.

 

In that case, wait for others, but IMHO, at least one of the oils that best rejects water and gives you the color treatment you like best..........

 

I’ve used tung on musical instruments in the past. Durable, attractive and easy to touch-up down the line. My best results were achieved with multiple thin coats, letting them dry in between….it can take a long time to dry.

 

Does the type of wood make any difference in which type of treatment is best? (Just asking to learn...)

 

Another vote for tung oil. Most danish oils contain some varnish. Mineral oil does not dry completely. Wax is not durable enough. Could wax after tung oil if you like.

Not so much. It really is more dependent on the look you are trying to acheive and how quickly. Soft woods tend to take finishes irregularly so penetrating finishes may need many more coats than one would like to apply to get a uniform look.

 

Thanks, @verybrad . That makes sense.

 

Wouldn’t it be better to match whatever finish is on the table base that you’ll be fitting it to? Maybe show a pic of the base, and the unfinished top. You left out shellac which is often a good choice for traditional antiques, but hard to say without seeing what it’s for.