Recommended finish for wood cabinet

Cool!!! Personally I would use at least 2 if not 3 coats of a name brand marine varnish. And if you live in a humid area I would even give the inside a coat or two. 

My experience is from finishing wooden walking sticks.

Tung works really well for waterproofing. It needs to cure in sunlight, and 3 coats are good for long term protection. That takes a minimum of 7 days in the sun. I had one stick that took 14 days to cure. Becomes rather yellow.

The only teak oil I tried was cut with a petroleum product, to make it penetrate better. As far as waterproofing went, not as good as tung. But getting farther into the wood grain, made for a less painted on coated look.

I have to suppose wood that old will have pores that are very open. Most oils stain some, and the different levels of absorption might give an uneven look. If you want a more even finish, try rubbing the surface down w. rotten stone. The fine pumice will clog the pores, and the oil coat give a more even coloring and flatter surface sheen.

gdenby said:

My experience is from finishing wooden walking sticks.

I have to suppose wood that old will have pores that are very open. Most oils stain some, and the different levels of absorption might give an uneven look. If you want a more even finish, try rubbing the surface down w. rotten stone. The fine pumice will clog the pores, and the oil coat give a more even coloring and flatter surface sheen.

Agree, but I have also had good luck on old barn siding projects using Minwax Wood Conditioner which readily levels out the absorption. It can go under polyurethane and Helmsman Spar Urethane.