Replies

1. 
   john_c2 | Aug 30, 2022 07:59pm | #1

   Some spots soak up more finish than other spots. Keep applying thin coats until it evens out.

2. 
   _mj_ | Aug 30, 2022 08:01pm | #2

   Looks like curls of grain rising to the surface and diving back down...think of a hose curled over and the loop cut off. You have those open tubes sucking in finish.

   I would try wetsanding with a film finish and pressing the sawdust & finish slurry into those areas. Let it dry and do it again, and maybe again with the goal of filling and plugging the tubes. You could also sand the snot out of some scrap and save the dust to make a paste along the same lines. If I was wetsanding I'd go with a long-drying varnish or poly... for the paste I would use sealcoat.

3. 
   Jkatzowitz | Aug 31, 2022 08:16am | #3

   To me the "dry spots" look like they were caused by tear out. Bubinga has rowed grain which makes that likely.

4. 
   geedubbee | Sep 02, 2022 11:00am | #4

   As John and MJ state, bubinga does this. So do walnut and others. You don't state what your finishing protocol has been to date but, certainly wet-sanding with the finish can build a slurry that will fill things in prior. I tend to apply finish until those areas stop drinking it in. I extreme cases I will pre-fill those areas with shellac prior to final surface prep.