I'm building a pair of cherry shaker end tables as a wedding present. I'm leaning towards BLO with a coat of shellac as the base finish, but need something protective that will last for generations over that. I also think the finish needs to be "water-proof", in that if someone puts a wet glass on the table I don't want permanent water rings to develop. I'm OK with finishing the pieces with a layer of wax because that can always be renewed.
What are your thoughts on a finish between the shellac and wax?
Thx - Rob