Simple finish.

[Cabinetman]

I use a thickish home made soap finish for most of my projects now (unless there is a specific request for something different). It's easy to make, easy to apply, doesn't need any special PPE and I can hand the project over quickly. It's not a hard finish (it's soap, after all), but it's easy enough to reapply again. It really depends what you plan to do with the stool you made.

Never heard of this, could you tell us a bit more please? Ordinary hand soap? How is it applied pls.
Just did what I should have done first, looked it up lol.
Interesting but as it says it needs reapplying every year it’s probably not for me.

 

[ColinDeVelen]

Cabinetman, I would still say have a go, it's a fun thing to be able to say you did, it's not expensive and it's not difficult. As you are across the pond, maybe check out the PW articles (you will at least recognise the brand names). Reapplication is only really an issue if you have a large area to do that needs to be cleared before doing it. For something small like the stool in the original post, it would be a 5 minute job (you can do it in situ, it's only soap after all).
Before any argument begins, I know it's not a universal finish that replaces everything, but it's a nice one to have around just in case. And, if nothing else, it's handy if you need to wash your hands in a puddle in the garden