I am ready to finish a Black Walnut Cookie Slab (35 inches round) - it is about the color of coffee beans with lighter highlights. I will be using it as a coffee table and want it to be very resistant to liquids & hot items. I also want a satin finish and prefer not to make the color too much darker.
My plan is to use a grain filler, finish (poss. sealer first if appropriate).
The questions is do I go with:
- Waterlox - satin (my current 1st choice since it is so good for water resistance)
- Formsby Tung Oil - satin (which I understand can form white marks from water or heat)
And depending on your recommendation. Please advise on a wood grain filler. what brand ? and do I go light on color of the wood filler (since the wood is so dark), clear or dark which some people tell me will bring the grain out even more (although I wonder since the slab is very dark to begin with).
Finally: how do I keep the wood grain filler out of some of the larger cracks around the edge of the slab which I want to preserve.
Thanks for your insight,
Allen