Pine stool - how can I treat the wood to prevent future damage or marking?

I will soon finish making a pine stool and I am wondering what sort of finish or treatment would be suitable for it in order to stop it getting dirty finger marks on and to stop it absorbing any liquids that might be spilled on it.

Should I use varnish - if so, are there different types, which type/brand would be suitable?

If varnish is not a good idea, what other products are available?

NB: The stool is for indoor use.

You have a few choices;

If you want to alter the colour of the timber you can use a stain and then a clear finish or you can use a stain varnish which is the two mixed together.

If you want to leave the timber the way it is and simply protect it from the little fingers and spills you can just coat it with a clear finish. It will darken the wood a little depending on the type and hardness of the wood.

I have done a lot of furniture building and restoration over the years and my personal preference is a stain, as long as the timber is not a dark wood already and which you need to pick out at your local paint or hardware store as there are many different finish colours, and then 3 coats of clear poly urithane, make sure you sand between coats with a lite grit sandpaper. It looks bad when you sand it but the next coat makes it look great.

It really isn't important what brand you use as there are many but the trick to it all is to get a good clear finish.

Be guided by your local paint or hardware store but I personaly do not like the stain varnish combinations, they tend to leave me dissappointed with the finish

If you want a very hard and durable finish that will let the natural beauty of the wood through then I would recommend a polyurethane. (oil based tends to yellow - water based stays clear) At least 3 coats if not 4.

The hardest finish is glossy. But if you don't want the finish to have a glossy appearance then you can put on 3 coats of glossy and a final coat of the finish you desire, satin for example.

Varathane is one brand. It depends if you want to use a water based or oil based product. You can get it in either spray on or brush on. I think is come in matte or satin , semi-gloss and gloss finish and is a harder finish then varnish.

I always like a light stain to bring out the wood grain and then varnish for that polished look that helps protect the wood. Three coats of varnish would work best. I can't remember the name of the varnish and stain I've used. Sorry on that count. Good luck.

oil-base poly will work best (just follow directions on can)