What is the simplest way to seal pores and finish a wood scale? I started making a set and since I have more time in front of a computer than I have access to actually working on things, I started reading and reading. I feel like I've made matters worse for myself. I already "ruined" the first set of scales by mixing different things I had read and being impatient. I read about wet sanding with your choice of finish, and I read about different oils and drying/nondrying and this and that and ended up sanding them with mineral oil. I realized the second I put mineral oil on the first one that I didn't intend to do that because it's non-drying and I don't particularly want to have to re-oil and wax them all the time. I know I can salvage them, but I might use them temporarily just to practice peening. I've read about tung oil (vs tung oil finish), CA, Shellac, BLO. But it seems like I read one website where someone is using something as a finish then another website says its just to seal and needs a "finish" over it.
I'm trying to keep cost down as much as possible until I know I'm going to actually have time to do this more often. Currently I have a little bit of CA, spar and poly urethane, "tung oil finish", mineral spirits. The first set of scales are red oak I had lying around, I'm working on making a set in walnut, both fairly large pores. So if I can use what I have or purchase just 1 things to fill pores and finish, what would it be?
I'm trying to keep cost down as much as possible until I know I'm going to actually have time to do this more often. Currently I have a little bit of CA, spar and poly urethane, "tung oil finish", mineral spirits. The first set of scales are red oak I had lying around, I'm working on making a set in walnut, both fairly large pores. So if I can use what I have or purchase just 1 things to fill pores and finish, what would it be?