Andy Kev.":1rxnhnny said:
Is it possible to apply wax to a decent bit of wood to really bring the grain out and then to preserve the effect by coating it with e.g. Danish Oil? If not D.O. then is there something else that would do the job?
Well nothing brings out the grain as much as an oil. Does that neatly sidestep the problem for you? For maximising contrast, popping grain, and doing the most for chatoyance wax is I think down the list a bit, below shellac, although that may depend somewhat on the wax(es) used.
Different oils give varied levels of enhancement, the difference can be slight but linseed oil in its various forms is generally considered the champ in this regard. Regardless of what is used the effect will be maximised by a gloss or semi-gloss final sheen; any level of satin or matt will reduce contrast and lessen the effect, considerably from certain angles.
Just in relation to the thread title, if you ever have waxed wood and you wanted to then coat it with something else you really need to clean it off quite well first using lots of white spirit or another solvent and plenty of paper towels or cloth rags (so you're not just spreading the wax around, you're lifting it off and taking it away). Then, if necessary, shellac might be used as an intermediate to ensure your final finish adheres well.