Hello
I am working on a large slab of Claro walnut that will be wall mounted and backlit in a restaurant lobby. The slab is actually a large cookie and so the surface is essentially all end grain. I'm looking for a finish that will accentuate the beautiful grain of this piece without darkening it too much. So far I have tested shellac, osmo polyx, odie's oil and Danish oil, which have all significantly darkened the piece and I lose the grain. Polyurethane did not darken the piece but did very little to beautify the grain.
Recommendations?