Black finish for family dining table?

[rhancock]

We bought this table, but the 'client' has specified she wants it refinished 'as black as you can get it, ideally like this one from Freedom, black as black, but still able to see the grain. We've got 3 kids already and another coming, so it'll need to be tough enough to cope.

I'm happy that a black japan type product will get the colour required, but how do I finish it to give a tough, gloss finish?

[Harry72]

Being a soft wood table it will never look good in a full high gloss black... think of a black car!
To get the grain showing through a burnished sheen will still show the grain, especially using pine.
Stain it black with water based(soaks in deeper), rub it back smooth to a "brushed finish" with a fibre sanding pad. Over coat it with a clear poly with a tad of oil based black stain to tint it darker, keep coating until its dark enough then hit it with the fibre sanding pad again then buff in some wax.