Any way of sending pics? I don’t have a prob with sap wood in walnut, but that’s just me. If ya want to even the color, I’d use a wash coat of de-waxed shellac (Zinsser Seal coat cut 50/50 with denatured alcohol), use a wiping stain of you choice to achieve the color ya want-sample color testing piece required-then a wiping varnish to finish off the piece. You might have to apply several coats for final finish. One coat ain’t gonna get it.
Having said that, we didn’t even talk about sanding. I would sand to about a 220 grit, wipe with a damp rag (water) to raise the grain, seal coat, scuff sand with the 220 to knock off the nibs, stain, finish coats.
Just a hint:
I start with a gloss finish ‘cause it will keep the depth, then I will rub it down with 0000 steel wool or a non-woven pad to the sheen I want.
Bill
-- bill@magraphics.us
