I really like Tru-Oil. It is sold as a gun stock finish and can be found in the hunting/fishing section of larger stores (Woodcraft also carries it). It is a polymerized tung oil mixture that cures quickly to a hard durable finish. I've used it for years on hard-use wood items like hiking staffs, axe handles, and knife scales.
The trick to getting good results with Tru-Oil is thin coats. I normally wipe on a thin coat with my finger or a rag. Let it sit for 10 minutes and when it starts to get tacky, wipe most of the excess off. Let is cure for a few hours, buff it with some 000 steel wool and repeat. When you get the level of finish you want, buff it out to the desired finish (e.g., high gloss, satin).
TedP
