Hmmmm ... ever use rottenstone with shellac for a filler?? Shellac itself works great!!
Shellac will make a good sealer and filler too I suspect. Though I only have it on excellent authority no experience.
But it should be made is small batches for flakes etc not the store bought in the can stuff. Or so I am told.
Heavy bodied oil works so well I have pretty much quit looking though I suspect that a medium bodied oil varnish would do one coat finishes on Maple. Something I am messing around with when I feel the urge. Which is not very often.
Dan