re: Finish question

My best advice is to have a sample board of the same species as your project (preferably a left over piece from your project) and do a series of tests with finishes you might want to use. For instance, if your sample board is a foot long and you have 3 possibilities for a finish, then section it off for each possibility. Write on the backside what it is, how many coats, et cetera , et cetera. Having a sample board with sample finishes right next to each other to compare and with a description of how you did each may help your decision. So one finish sample doesn’t bleed into the next, leave space between them and mask off those other areas while applying them.
Edit: Forgot to mention this….It is important to prep your sample the same as your project in regards to sanding. Example, if you sand up to and through 150 grit on your project, then do the same with the sample
Good luck !