Treatment for shelving?

[wowfudge]

We nee to sort out some shelving at the weekend - it's going in an alcove. If we buy oak cut to size from the timber merchants do we need to treat it in any way? I was thinking or osmo oil or wax, but I'm not sure if it's necessary or appropriate.

I asked my DH :)
he says- you don't actually need to do anything for oak, but you could use oil or wax if you wanted to. Oil could possibly stain something you stand on it ( eg cloth ) Wax will give it a nice sheen, and will make it a little darker (even if you use natural) Bri wax is a good beeswax one .

Thank you!

Wax will protect the wood, bring out the grain and make it easier to keep clean

I would also sand the wood with 180 sandpaper, then with finishing paper before waxing.

Finishing paper? Could you expand on that as it's not a term I've heard before.

its a very fine grade of sandpaper :)

If you are buying oak is it solid oak? Or veneered oak? How are the shelves being held up? I ask because oak has tannic acid which will eventually go through steel screws so the advice has always been to use brass screws however the brass coloured twin fast screws may be ok.

Good tip - solid oak using battens attached to the wall to support them.

But put steel screws in first and then remove and put the brass ones in. The reason being that brass screws are are soft.

Can anyone advise what kind of wax we should use please?