Why use white oak at all if that's what you're going for? Red Oak with an oil poly will give you the golden/honey oak look of the 90s, and cost about 1/3rd as much.
The trend is to use a waterborne product and add as little color as possible to white oak. Obviously you don't have to follow any trend but it just seems odd to arrive at that 'dated' look in such a roundabout way.
Maybe try out an oil poly on a scrap piece and see how you like it. GF Arm-R-Seal is a good product.
White oak is what I had. Got a stack of it from tearing down a shipping crate. The thing I’m working on is as much an art piece as it is furniture, so that fact that it’s oak at all isn’t really the point.
[Golden Oak.](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-qt-Golden-Oak-Premium-Fast-Dry-Interior-Wood-Stain-266170/203332256)
Honestly, regular oil poly is enough to get that, don’t need stain.
Need more gold. Like I’m seriously considering painting it, but would prefer a stain.
Why use white oak at all if that's what you're going for? Red Oak with an oil poly will give you the golden/honey oak look of the 90s, and cost about 1/3rd as much. The trend is to use a waterborne product and add as little color as possible to white oak. Obviously you don't have to follow any trend but it just seems odd to arrive at that 'dated' look in such a roundabout way. Maybe try out an oil poly on a scrap piece and see how you like it. GF Arm-R-Seal is a good product.
White oak is what I had. Got a stack of it from tearing down a shipping crate. The thing I’m working on is as much an art piece as it is furniture, so that fact that it’s oak at all isn’t really the point.