Light finish on QS White Oak that doesn't muddy medullary rays

[Tom777]

I have a quarter sawn white oak desk build that my granddaughter wants with a light white finish.  I have done samples of several white Rubio products, Natura white, and Minwax simply white oil base with General Finish High Performance water based topcoat.  All of them seem too muddy and wipe out the white oak flecking and rays.  I've read that dye stains are best in this situation.   I tried some darker General Finish water based dye stain I had from another project and it really popped the flecking.  I can't find this or other dyes in a light color.  Any suggestions or alternatives? 

[wtnhighlander]

Hi Tom, and welcome to the forum. Have you considered a bleaching agent, such as this: https://a.co/d/08M8khvl ?

I would certainly test it before committing, as bleaching does affect the appearance if grain to some extent. Also, have you shown yourother examples to your grandaughter? You may find that, like most women in my life circle, the color is much more important to her than the grain texture is.

[gee-dub]

The color array is pretty wide so you need to focus on the spectrum you are after.  A clear shellac will seal the material and lock in the color with only a slight bit of yellowing.  If this is still too much yellowing for your purpose I would use Minwax Polycrylic.  A super white, super clear poly finish that does not yellow much, if at all.  I favor it for tiger or birdseye maples where I want the true beauty of the wood to show.  This one is just Zinsser Seal Coat clear shellac but, would not give you a surface protection suitable for a desk.  You could coat with shellac for the look and then apply a clear, gloss, lacquer for a similar look.  As always, test pieces are your friend.

[Coop]

@gee-dub, what is the approx width of the item shown? Are the three sections equal in width? 

[gee-dub]

@Coop - This will be a bit of a hijack.  It is about 31" x 8" x 9" high.  The left and middle sections are about 9-12" wide.  The section with the door is about 1/2" narrower.  The door is coopered to match the front arc.  The dividers are tapered; narrower at the front and wider at the back.  If I didn't post a journal on this Clark Kellogg inspired piece I will go back and do one.

@Coop - Found it.

[gee-dub]

I forgot I had an example of white oak with a Zinsser Seal Coat as a finish.

There is some coloration in the figured white oak but you can still get the idea from the light colored areas.