Carpentry and Woodworking - please help- cedar wood preserving and varnishing

Hi - I have just been lucky enough to get hold of a huge cedar wood mushroom shaped table- it's edges have got bark on them to give the finished mushroom effect- it is absolutely untouched as in no finishes etc- it is pretty large- small table size -and is made from one piece of wood. I was wondering if any of you wise ones would help me out by giving me a few tips on how i approach preserving it- i want to keep it inside- which i know can be aproblem unless it is preseved well- as it can crack. I have been told to use linsed oil on the main bit and varnish on the bark- is this the best way forward. Someone said antifreeze on the bark?! Is linseed oil the best or would another oil be better? If varnish is the best what type of varnish? just fllor- and matt or gloss.Someone also suggested i keep it moist by watering it or even sticking it in the bath to keep it going before i get round to treating it. I would be really really grateful for an answer as i really haven't a clue. Thanks a lot in advance Afreeca :thinker:

I think that tung oil would be a good treatment. It produces a durable, attractive finish that is easy to repair and maintain. It can successfully be applied by hand. For a solid piece such as you describe, I recommend that it be finished on the underside as well as the top. I would use tung oil on the entire piece, bark and all.

Hope this helps.

Thankyou very much Chris- i really appreciate your advice lots. i will try and get some tung oil as soon as possible.
i don't suppose you had any views on what to put on the bark part. do you reckon tung oil then varnish. and do you think i should make the wood damp before treating it? :)

cheers roots peace rainbows Mel

just re read my message and it sounds like i did not get you- i do understand about tung oil on the bark and all but do you think i should put varnish on the top? -sorry if i sound a bit thick! cheers again
rootspeace rainbows mel :)

Tung oil or linseed oil would be my choice as well. Stay away from anything that will close the pores of the wood. Cypress needs to "breathe" and any petroleum base finish will cause it to dry rot from the inside out. That would be a shame for such a nice piece as your table.

Joe