I have tried oiling some pine dowels (with regular wood oil). The problem I experience is that I think they become a bit uglier with oil, they become a little "streaky" and almost look a bit dirty in some places.
Do you have any tips on how I should oil pine dowels to make them look nicer?
Do you have any tips on how I should oil pine dowels to make them look nicer?
If there is resin or grease on the surface, it can sometimes appear mottled. If the sanding hasn't removed everything, you can clean the rods with mineral spirits. Apply oil generously but wipe away any oil that hasn't soaked into the wood after about 1 hour. However, oil will always give a darker appearance. If you want to keep the rods light but still have a protective surface treatment, try a water-based acrylic varnish.
Any form of non-covering treatment can alter the appearance of wood. Grain patterns and the like can be accentuated. If you want to reduce this, there are oils (e.g., floor oils) with color pigments (most often white), which counteract the wood becoming slightly yellower/darker from the oil.