To Finish or Not to Finish

[Jason Hanko]

That is the question.

I am currently (perpetually, if you ask SWMBO) working my way through building a trestle table. The table will have breadboard ends which slide out on runners to allow extension leaves to be put in. The runners simply run through a channel made by strips of wood glued/screwed to the underside of the top.
My question has to do with the wooden runners - should I finish those or leave the wood bare? Most of the rest of the table will be finished with Waterlox original, but I guess Im worried about that getting sticky. I do plan to apply some paste wax to the runners and guide-channels when its all finished, but Im just wondering if I should do some sort of seal coat first (shellac maybe)?



Thanks for your input!

[Allen Breinig]

If they are a single piece of wood that slides under the table top to extend I would shellac them. If they are dovetailed slides I would shellac the exterior surfaces and wax the surfaces that rub together. Thinking that this would slow down moisture transfer and prevent sticking of the slides.
Allen