Thread: HELP. Burnishing troubleshooting

Hi.
I hope I'm posting this in the right place. My internet is slow and I'm new to this page so not sure on exactly where to go.

I would love some feedback on a beech timber bench that we have tried to use the burnishing technique with oil.
It's had a good 5 or 6 days to cure and anywhere I sample wiping with a damp cloth or a spot of water gets on it,the timber sort of goes rough under your hand and loosing it's shine and smoothness. It's hard to explain but definitely wouldn't be OK to use as a bench top like this. When I hit the spots that have gone sort of rough with 800 sand paper they go smooth and shiny again like the rest of the bench 🤔
Maybe we didn't burning it enough or I did go right down very fine, maybe 1200 before putting oil on.I think I used the 800 for burnishing as well not 400.I couldn't get any for my sander in tien at the time and I thought the finer the better but maybe not. I now read it should really only be 400 and maybe it being too smooth before commencing burnishing has effected the process??
Either way I have no idea what to do now.
Can I put another layer on and try burnishing again or can we just put a layer of oil over it and let it dry?
Or does it all need to be sanded again and if so how far back using what gritt paper please??
I have read that maybe it could be waxed but not sure this is ideal for a bench. I've done that for a table and it's been great but always a bit harder to wipe. It was bees wax though.

We love the way it looks so if a good wax would seal it from water etc then that would be OK. To sand it back now is a mission as the sink and cook top are in and splash back sitting on it as well 🤪
It would all have to be pulled out to sand again 😱

Thank you for your feedback!