End grain chess board (pine/oak) finish?

[TheyCallMeTex]

Pine and oak, with a thin poplar border.

I was going to sand to like 400 and use wood conditioner/tung oil.

Sanding to a fine grit and using conditioner are the best guidance I can find for an end grain piece.

Thanks for your help y'all!

The lines aren't as tight as I'd like, harbor freight mitre saw LIES about it's angles

 

[J_Graham]

Look pretty good! Be sure you have lots and lots of oil (whether tung oil or another type) it will take more than you anticipate to flood the end grains.

 

[PeteM]

Lots of options. I'd tend to go with a water-based product that will keep the pine light for contrast. Oil will turn it amber.
https://generalfinishes.com/wood-fi...ng-sealer/high-performance-polyurethane-water
Whatever you choose do a few tests on some cutoffs or whatever to see if the finish suits you. And, as Graham said, if you do go with an oil finish have lots on hand and let it soak in as much as it will take.

 

[TheyCallMeTex]

I appreciate the help I did go with tung oil after some tests because I liked the effect on the pine, the amber really looks good next to the poplar border. (I wanted to do oak/poplar check pattern instead of oak/pine but I couldn't find poplar 2x2s.) I put a good coat of oil-based wood conditioner.

And also...bruh...it took FOREVER to sand the top down to 400 grit but MAN does it feel nice.

I think I'll do a few coats of the tung oil and then hit it with a couple of coats of varnish.

I really appreciate the tips yall. (Don't hate on my mitres too bad I blame Harbor Freight.)

Now I just need to find someone to carve me some chess pieces!

 

[Berta]

I can teach you how to make chess pieces on a scroll saw.

 

[HITCH-]

I've never tried it, but I have heard of wet sanding with BLO to fill pores and small cracks.

 

[TheyCallMeTex]

I can teach you how to make chess pieces on a scroll saw.

I will take you up on that someday...need to get a scroll saw first

 

[TheyCallMeTex]

I've never tried it, but I have heard of wet sanding with BLO to fill pores and small cracks.

Nice, that's a great tip. I found these instructions: Oil Finishing, I'll give it a go next time. I suppose the same process works with (eg) mineral oil, if I wanted to do a cutting board.