Silky Oak finishing help

[irish]

Ok! Hello, I've just joined this site and it sems full of very usefull info but after searching it for the past hour I can't find what I'm looking for. I need basic information as I've never used Linseed oil on this type of timber before, in fact I've never really built anything that I wanted a nice finish on before.
My situation is:
I've built a computer table using two big slabs of Silky Oak and some treated pine slepers as legs.
I was advised to use 50%/50% boiled linseed oil to mineral turps.
I had no idea how to apply it but I just jumped in feet first with my eyes closed.
I sanded and sanded and sanded untill I just couldn't bare to do it any more.
I slapped on the linseed oil/ turps mixture with a paint brush, rubbed it in with my bare hands and then wiped any extra off with a cloth.
I have done this six times and it just keeps soaking in.

My problems are;

I don't have a clue what I'm doing!!!!

I want a hard wearing glossy surface on it.

Should I keep on putting coates of linseed oil/ Turps on it?

Should I eventually wax it?(if so with what?)

I'm not happy that it has gone so dark, is there anything simple I can do about this?

What should I do about the rough natural edges on it that just look horrible now. I thought they looked good untill I put the linseed oil on them.

I tried to attach a photo but I have no idea how to make it the correct size to atach.

Any help would be great thanks, but please keep it simple as I said I've no idea what I'm doing!:doh:

[artme]

Welcome to the sanctum irish.:):):)
You will get lot's of help here and this is where you should have come before you did your desk. Too late now, however! Silky oak is quite porous and will soak up the type of finish you applied forever. Another problem is that raw Linseed oil will darken on exposure to light. I really have no idea how you can rescue your work and can only say that I feel sorry that it all went so badly for you.
Perhaps other foumites will have some ideas.

[irish]

Thanks for the answer. I now realise that I have done some things wrong but I would not have thought that all was lost. I mean it's still a functioning desk and it will get the computer out of the kitchen. It does not look the way I had wanted but it's not absolutly disgusting. I will eventually make something better(I hope) to replace it but for now I have to make the most of it.

I'm trying to look on the positive side here!

[artme]

Didnt' mean to make you feel so despondent irish.:no::no: Sorry if I made your day worse.:doh:

[ubeaut]

G'day Irish - No major problem nor is there any real harm done.

Leave it for a few days to dry off and harden a little then you can go over it with shellac for a harder more durable finish or you could add a bit of polyurethane to the linseed/turps mix and continue with that as per this thread http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=67925

Cheers - Neil :U