Finish recommendations for roll top desk project

[jsollows]

I'm just in the final stages of an oak roll top desk project that has been many months in the works. I'm considering the finish. I want the oak to remain it's natural color so no stain will be used. I'm considering either a simple Shellac finish or a Shellac base coat followed by sanding for blotch control and a wipe on oil varnish blend (Danish Oil Natural) based on Marc's Simple Varnish Finish DVD. I'm looking for a simple foolproof finish that will show the natural beauty of the oak.

Emphasis on foolproof, I dislike finishing because if it goes wrong, then six months of work ends in the scrap bin ... it's happened to me before. Any recommendations or advice is much appreciated.

[PaulMarcel]

You shouldn't need blotch control on oak so you can skip the shellac. Besides, a nice oil finish on the oak will bring out any ray fleck better if it soaks in (which it cannot with shellac).

[AceHoleInOne]

Sound like a sprayed honey toned lacquer or shellac. Should imitate an "oil" finish.

-Ace-

[Lawrence Brown]

And don't forget to test on scrap first, which you probably already know. Make sure the scrap is sanded just the same as the good pieces. I'm in the same boat: I'm putting a 9-step finish on a project I've been working on for months and would really hate to screw it up now. The testing I did definitely picked up a few things that I wouldn't have noticed otherwise until it was too late.