I have an old counterbalance loom that I keep tweaking to work better. Both the back and breast beams have grooves worn by years of rug warp used by previous owners of the loom. I suspect the wood is pine, not a hardwood. I have been using the loom with the grooved beams for several years with no trouble, but I have been weaving narrow projects using cotton yarn, and not high tension. Now I am planning a wide project using linen yarn, and it is time to smooth out those beams. Sanding is a given, but what kind of finish? The loom looks like it has a mahogany stain or lacquer, with dark color and a firm hard surface. In the grooves, the wood is a sort of coffee-and-cream color with fine splinters. I would appreciate any product suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help.
Karen