Here’s a coat tree out of the same cedar tree trunk. We burned about 80 acres on my cousin place and that left a few dead cedars standing. I cut it down, peeled the bark and sanded it all. The tops and bottom are from some cedar planks I bought at Lowe’s. All of has about 6 coats of tung oil on it.
Tung oil is my favorite finish. It penetrates well and brings out the beauty of the wood very nicely. I would recommend using polyemerized tung oil because it will dry faster.
Tung oil is not cheap. If you are going to be finishing the top at your primary surface, it is all end-grain. That will soak up the oil like a never-ending sponge. It will take many, many, many applications before it builds up to the surface. You’ll want to ensure the top has a buildup before it offers any protection or displays any sheen.
With that being said, oil based polyethylene would be faster and cheaper in the long run. It will still soak into the long grain to protect from within. But you will need fewer applications.
It is a live oak. We had one in our back yard growing up. We spent many a day climbing in the tree. My dad made a swing or two in it also. It’s still there as I have to drive by my childhood home on the way to work. If you keep the wood inside and treated with whatever option you choose you will have it as long as you want. Enjoyed this post as it brought back a few childhood memories.