red cedar benchtop

[trevorZ]

I've made a wash basin bench from a slab of red cedar, it has a bit of sapwood along the front edge which we want to keep natural, but it has a small patch 2sq" of soft area and some borer holes.We're going for an oiled finish.Any suggestions for a filler for the soft spot and oil for the finish?

[Eastie]

An oil finish for a washbasin cabinet may not be the best choice for the long term - discoloration from liquids including soap and cleaning chemicals, moisture absorbtion & movement all come to mind. A lacquer or even a floor finish might be better suited and could be rubbed back if you don't want a gloss look ?

For the soft sap wood the best success I've had is with applying epoxy filler - aka epoxy adhesives (araldites, west systems, etc). You need to get it in as far as possible into the borer holes - can be tricky. For best results you really need to strengthen up the soft area from inside first. Get hold of a large syringe with a large needle from a chemist and see if you can force epoxy through it.
At worst you should be able to force it through the syringe (without the needle attached) into the holes. If you just apply a coat outside it will more than likely crack or chip off.

Best wishes,
Eastie