White Oak finish question

[Robert Miller]

Hi everyone, I'm getting to the point in the building of my new workbench that I'm thinking about the finish technique for the white oak the bench is made of.
I finished the base with equal parts of 1/3 tung oil, varnish, and turps applied as a wiping varnish. This is the result.

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/robmill54/P1010052.jpg


The bench top has a lot of rays that I want to highlight. I want a more durable finish for the top.
My question is, what do you think of a suitable finish for the top that will make the rays pop but without a mission finish?
I'm thinking of a tung oil or BLO soaking followed by several coats of Waterlux original, and then carnauba wax.
You can see in the rays in these photos of the bench top.
Thoughts?

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/robmill54/P1080061.jpg

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g148/robmill54/P1030055.jpg

[Steve Schoene]

I don't favor any film finish for a work bench top. There is no finish that will prevent the top from being dinged up if it is used as a work bench. A coat or two of BLO and be done, or no finish at all. Skip the wax, it makes clamping to the bench more difficult. Remember it isn't furniture, it's a tool.