Nidge wrote:

Finish it with Rubio Monocoat Clear or Pure...single coat application.

Expensive but the best oil type finish on the market by far.

http://www.monocoat.us/2C-Oil/

N.

What puddle? wrote:

proloForêt Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. The wood is white softwood - either pine or spruce. Look forward to your advice. In the past, I've used boiled linseed oil on oak, but again it darkened it a fair bit. I want to avoid that if I possibly can, so was ideally looking for a clear oil.
Edit: For indoor use.

Ken. Yes, I asked if they would prefer a white glass top to it, but they want the rough wood finish. Glass adds weight and it has to be toughened in case a plate is dropped on it. It still breaks, but safely.

If the colour is really to be the most important for the customer I think on a light pine like this that a good water based poly would be your best option. I would not say this if it was for exterior, for that an oil must be the option. Super sand the grain after the first one or two coats because the grain will lift but a good sanding to a high grit also performs as part of the sealing process. It will still look rough and rustic but will be smooth to touch. Over the time with the UV light there will be a colour change slight but even the raw wood will do this.
For best and future without effort take a good oil like Osmo or Mono. You can get tinted versions but do not take these to a pine wood - it does not take stain evenly.
Take a small piece of the wood and apply a few oil coats first and show to the customer the end vision but it too will change over time no matter - so slowly that it is not usual to notice.
Personally I always prefer to use an oil over water base and for a table like a rustic style also do a final with a wax blend after the pure oiling.

Hope it is useful information to you, enjoy the project!