John, if it's oak you could try fuming it with ammonia. It gives a slight greenish tinge to the wood without raising the grain (so no rubbing down). Then a clear coat over the top. Try it on a piece of scrap to see the result. Make a tent out of plastic sheet on a frame, put a bowl full of domestic ammonia in with the piece and monitor it for colour change.
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Pete
I've cut it twice and it's still too short! But only at one end.
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