Billd - if you want to fill the grain, I suggest a building finish like True Oil. I know there are other finishes, but it can be put on rather thickly, but it runs. I put it on failry thin, and build with subsequent coats. Once the first coat is hard, you can apply 2 coats a day- 14 in a week, then sand back to the wood with 1,000 grit or finer- yes, finer. I use 1,500 grit. With a hard finish, the paper doesn't load up and it goes much more quickly than you would imagine. You don't want to press hard and creat heat. Once getting down to the tops of the grain, wipe the dust off with a damp rag, then hold to the light, so see if the surface is flat, no grain. If flat, 3 or 4 very thin rubbed on coats finish the stock like a piano, IF you have rouge in a paste to polish. If not, a pumice rubbed finish will give a satin sheen. 0000 will scratch the finish. I lerned this from sydney fo this forum. He is an incredible stock maker/finisher.
