"nugatory" wrote in message
...
Seriously, these woods respond really well to oil-based rubbing
finishes such as tung or danish. They are easy and nearly
foolproof, and look great. Only caution: some formulations amber
wood a lot more than others, and that's an effect that many people
don't like on maple. I've always liked the Park's tung oil
finish, and in general the linseed-oil based finishes amber more
than the tung oil based ones, but this is a matter of taste.

Another possibility is shellac (but mix your own from flakes
so you can control the cut), which will dry dead clear with
no ambering at all, just gorgeous on maple and cherry. It's
a bit less forgiving though, and you may have to sand the
finish coat with very fine-grit (1000 or higher) to get a
result you really like. Shellac does have the advantage
of being completely reversible, though - it comes off with
the same denatured alcohol you use to mix it in the first place.

Oil finish on the cherry with linseed-based products - clearer.

Shellac or lacquer the birdseye. Lacquer preferred, because a lot of
cosmetics have alcohols in them, and they might get carried to the box on
lotioned fingers.