Penetrating Oil on Recycled Jarrah

I have just built a table and matching benches from recycled jarrah. The table top and bench tops came Dressed at about 150grit. I have sanded with 180grit, 400 grit and 800 grit. I have finished the benches with Synteko Solid pentrating oil, by applying with lambs wool applicator and hand buffing with a brown type flooring pad. The matt look is great. My problem is the grain seems to have swelled, so the finish is rougher than I would like. I trialled the underside of the bench with a second sanding with 400 and 800 grit, and another coat (24hrs after sanding and 48hrs after the first coat) of the pentrating oil. The result was smoother, but with white "flecks" that look to be the end of some of the grain. Maybe the oil did not penetrate.
Any ideas on how to get the best finish for the table top, using this product and the timber ?

G'day.

Number 3 on Billy Connolly's 13 things I hate about people.

3. When people say "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too".
F'n right! What good is a cake if you can't eat it?

In this case, I'm going to say it. "you can't have your cake & eat it too."

The 'good' thing about a pentrating oil is the fact that you can still feel the timber.
If you don't want to feel the timber, you'll have to coat it with something like urethane or lacquer or shelac.

I like the look of a coated finish but I LOVE the feel of an oil finsh 'cos it's the timber, not the coating.

My opinion.

Thanks cliff. You know what they say "You can't have everything...Where would you put it?".


The wife reckons the same thing regarding the grain. I guess after all that sanding I was hoping it would stay as smooth.

G'day,

I am unsure of the penetrating oil type you are using (wife says that sounds terrible) but I have had great success on reclaimed jarrah with just plain old tung oil. Hope that helps

Repeating myself here from another post ... I've found like you that Organoil eg. raises the grain over a period of several weeks, and that a final fine sand is needed. I've never had white flecks on jarrah, and all that I've used has been recycled stuff, so can't help you with this. Perhaps some interaction between your finish and something left in the grain?

Thanks for the advice all.
Finished the table top - has come up a bit smoother than the benches. V Happy

Photos in the Photo Gallaeries/Woodwork Pics Forum http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=9389