Elephant bandsaw box

[user 19915]

I have been experimenting trying to make a elephant bandsaw box with pine timber . As you can see i haven,t finished it yet but i would like to darken the wood how would you finish the box all suggestions welcome good or bad lol this will be my practice box as i will be using Iroko next time but i thought it would be a good time to ask ?
MOCK

 

[Homerjh]

If a practice then any dark wood stain, Wilkinson's have some cheap, and as a practice price matters.

Just watch for end grain as thus will soak more in and pine end grain looks scrappy as the fibres expand.

 

[user 19915]

bought two small tins of stain today i shall leave you know what i think or even post a photo should i apply anything else after the stain thank,s
mock

 

[user 19915]

stain applied should i be doing anything else after the stain as been applied

 

[Homerjh]

dunno! a lot of videos seem to say sand it down with fine grit just to take back any raised grain because of the stain, but if it is a practice piece then depends how much you want to do.

pine end grain soaks in really easy and can look 'fluffy' from experience, but when you go to other wood it may work totally different!