Hard finish for very soft timber

[Dengue]

Hello, I have obtained a few pieces of Qld Red Cedar that I would like to use on a box. Apart from the dust risks to health, this timber is very soft and bruises easily, I am told. Looking in the latest AWR #84, an article on "Tough Timbers" by Jugo Illic shows this cedar to be the softest of the lot.

Can anyone please advise on a hard wearing finish for this timber if I use it on box sides or a lid. The idea being the finish makes the timber harder and a bit more resistant to damage, if at all possible

[Master Splinter]

I'd say maybe try the "Cactus Juice" stuff used by the pen turners for punky timbers and cactus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvII1FTm3YM

Failing that, thinned marine epoxy.

[Dicky Knee]

Hi Dengue,

I've always liked Feast Watson's Floorseal, which now seems to be called Floorseal Oil. It's a very low-viscosity Tung oil varnish originally developed for basketball courts, so it's quite hard, and hard-wearing. It doesn't hide the grain, even if you build up three or four thin coats.
http://www.feastwatson.com.au/consumer/products/interior/product-details/1529

Also, Bote-Cote Epoxy has an additive called TPRDA, which lets the epoxy penetrate further into the wood than it otherwise would. You can then sand back & varnish over the epoxy.
http://boatcraft.com.au/Shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1_46

I hope this helps.
Good luck,
Dick