As in the title I am Making an oak live edge dinner table for wife. I have a mill near my house with the wood kiln dried and cured for 10 years. I have sanded and planed both sides, It is 2 book end slabs by friend that owns the mill helped me put together 21"x7" each. Now the grain is beautiful. I don't want to change the color. Should i use an oil based poly to protect it than a top coat??? I am a novice and don't want to ruin the wood. since it is a kitchen table it will need to withstand abuse. Could i put some sort of oil down to show off the grain than an oil based polyurethane? or is there a better way. any advice and introduction would greatly be appreciated. chris

If this belongs in tools - please move....I am hoping more hobbyists visit here to speak about the experience. I am just doing some very basic woodworking in my basement...Cutting with table saw I am doing outside but routing, sanding miter cuts - I am doing in my basement. I am using 12 Gal. 5HP shop vac connected to Oneida Cyclone that goes to whatever tool I need to use at the time..... My questions are as follow: 1. For dust control when using only 1 tool at a time with short run hose....would I benefit by buying an entry level dust collector under $500 ? Are those better in my particular situation or only when and if I decide to start connecting multiple tools to the vac system at once ? 2. How much do I lose in terms of suction / dust control by using Cyclone device? Would I be better off to stick with HEPA filter bag inside the shop vac and just put up with paying for replacement whenever filled up ? Wonder if you have any other tips to collect/control dust in my particular situation.... again... this isn't a shop, no multiple tools running...no big deal for me to keep attaching one tool at a time to my shop vac. Thank you