Generally, you do not want to put on a film-forming finish. Cuts and dings will quickly degrade it. People I know do one of the following (with periodic renew):

- Nothing with a periodic renewal by sanding or planing
- An oil finish like boiled linseed oil
- A home-brew of oil and wax, either linseed and wax melted together (do this over hot water only, as it is very flammable) applied and wiped, or mineral oil and wax, melted similarly, applied, let it cool, then scrape off the excess with a credit card.
- An oil-varnish blend such as Danish Oils, Antique Oils, or some of the so-called Tung Oil Finishes.

The objective is to get something that will maintain relative cleanliness, allow glue to pop off, and not be too slippery.

thank you~