Messmate table finish suggestions

Hi,

I am about finished construction of my recycled messmate dining table. First thing I've made, so I went for a cheap, easy to work timber, and a chunky, rustic design (to hide my mistakes!). It's turned out OK, and I've learned a lot. I have filled the cracks and nail holes with epoxy+black oxide. Very happy with the look. Now I need to decide on a finish.

I'd like to use hard shellac. I understand it would make the colour about like the timber wet. I'm not a big fan of that colour, I'd like it darker golden brown, possibly reddish. I don't want to lose any depth of the grain (if there is any!). My parents have floorboards which they polished about 3 or 4 years ago. Over time they turned from a light messmate-ish colour to golden reds and browns. Does messmate change in light like this? If not, how should I stain it? Once I apply the hard shellac, should I wax it or just finish with a light sand and EEE?

My plan is:
Sand in steps. 80, 120 (both with the belt sander, rest by hand with a block), 220, 400, 600, 800. Should I go higher??
Sanding sealer followed by light 800 to remove the raised grain.
Stain? How?
Regular shellac with talc to fill the grain
3-4 coats of hard shellac, lightly sanded between with 1200
1200 or higher followed by EEE
Wax??

I'd strongly recommend that you DO NOT use stain - only good for making cheap stuff look cheaper (:D) - a lesson that's finally sinking in with me :rolleyes: Dyes, however, can be a different game - see Ubeaut's line of dyes...

Shellac will darken the timber a little, blonde shellac less so.

I generally just wax (uBeaut, of course!) after shellac, either the traditional or the cedar toned version depending on the timber and look that I want.

The best advice I can suggest is to get a few strips of the timber that you are working with, mask up sections about 100mm long and pin tags to these sections - and then experiment, noting on the tags what you have done. Keep these as a library of finishing effects.

What will wax be like on a dining table with heat and knocks/scratches and water? Any reaction? Just need to reapply from time to time?

Anyone have any experience with messmate and dyes? I have plenty of offcuts of the boards I used for the table top, so I can experiment :)

Are there any oils or other things I might look at that can go under shellac?