If the requirement is to keep the oak looking as natural as possible whilst preventing blackening or silvering as much as possible then the following is the best system we know of.
Best way to finish oak furniture.
Apply two coats of rockler s mission oak wipe on gel stain.
Though subtle compared with pine this uneven absorption can give oak a blotchy appearance.
The sanding process particularly with finer grits will also create sawdust that will linger in the open grain of the oak.
If it occurs on a stained and finished test piece try sealing the next test piece prior to staining using a conditioner sanding sealer or wash coat.
Apply stain in the direction of the grain then allow it to soak into the wood before wiping away excess stain with a rag.
Types of wood penetrating finishes.
This category of finish is not.
The final finish is a few coats of polyurethane.
Then fill any blemishes with a grain filler paste followed by a gel stain.
Bonding primer after looking at all our options using a bonding primer to get a clean finish and avoid stripping or sanding seemed like the best option.
You also can add stain pigments to the clear finish to reduce blotching.
Simple but nice oak finish 1.
Oak needs to be finished with very fine sandpaper like 280 or 320 grit in order for it to look nice when the final finishes are applied.
Shellac is widely used for sealing oak.
1 coat of clear wood preservative followed by 2 coats of osmo uv protection oil 420 extra.
Woodlife classic clear wood preservative.
Seal with shellac and scuff sand when dry.
The longer you leave the stain on the darker your table will be.