Holly - non yellowing oil finish?

[bugbear]

I'm just nearing completion on a walking stick/stave (56" long, around 1 1/2" diam) in holly.

In truth, it's little more than a nicely cleaned up branch, which I worked
to minimise the taper and make it balanced.

I've sanded it to 400 grit, I'll probably bone/burnish it, and now need a finish.
My normal choice for tool handles is linseed oil (lots of coats , but the stick
at the moment is so wonderfully white (I've never worked
holly before - it's nice) I don't want to yellow it.

Are there other oil products (either "pure" or commercial blends)
that I can use that will retain the whiteness?

BugBear

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi BB,

I haven't used this, but they also do it in white

HTH,

Neil

 

[RogerS]

All oil finishes colour the wood yellow.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

No personal experience, but water based lacquers reputedly less prone to yellowing.

 

[MIGNAL]

One of the clearest finishes that I've used is Sandarac dissolved in alcohol. Pretty much the same as dissolving shellac.
In any case your Holly will change colour over a long period of time, even under a finish. The colour change is slight but it is inevitable. White examples of Holly tend to take on a very slight Gray/White hue. The only way to slow it right down is to store the item in a dark cupboard, which kind of defeats the objective.