Spalted Maple Finish w/o Color Change?

[Bob Lyon]

I was just about to apply a tung oil finish to the handle of the dagger I'm making for my wife when she stopped me. The wood is maple that has spalted to a nice
purple/brown, and she didn't want me to take a chance of messing up the color.
I'd like to do something to highlight the figuring, but keep the color intact. Would a simple coat of satin polyurethane do? The wood is in good shape, so I don't need to do any hardening to it.
Thanks
Bob

 

[Mike Hull]

I usually use Watco Natural. It seems to highlight more than darken.
Brings out the depth, and iridescence.

 

[Matt Shade]

I've been real happy with watco's natural. On rosewood and cocobolo it seems to keep the exact same color, you can just put a shine too it.
I used it on a gunstock that was english walnut, and it turned that a hair darker, but really brought out the grain. Probably would have very little effect on the maple, especially since it has a darker than natural color to begin with.

 

[Jeff O]

Pure tung oil was recommended to my by my grandpa, for the tiger maple handle on a Marble’s bison I had picked up. I had to hunt around the hardware store to find a brand with no additives such as polyurethane. The brand was Formby’s tung oil… or something like that. Anyway, the stuff did not darken the wood but it really brought out the grain. I guess the only way you are gonna’ know fore sure is to try it… maybe with some scrap if you have some.

Good Luck!