OH has just built a fireplace from sleepers. Looking for advice for how to finish. I want to stain it dark brown but what about wax? also what is best way to 'shape' it?
Thanks

First off have the sleepers been tarred or creosoted?

No, just bare oak

If you want a natural finish, we've used Osmo on oak floors, staircase (also exterior oil on the front door and garage doors etc)

Osmo

It's very easy to apply - just two coats.

In which case you can shape with a spoke shave and finish with any suitable wood treatment but watch is is not too inflammable. Unless the wood has been cut and dried for a long while it may well shrink a good deal and to leave the finishing for at least 12 months may be the best idea so any gaps can be filled before the final finish is applied.

Are you sure they're sleepers?  Old railway sleepers are generally made from something called Jarrah timber, and they are treated to preserve them.  They also used Jarrah wood for some bridge decks, because of the density and it lasts a long time. 

Well they look like sleepers. A friend got them from a builders, new and unused

They might not be actual sleepers in that case, they might be something sold to the public as 'railway sleepers' ie same size and shape, but not the exact same sort of timber.  They use concrete and steel sleepers these days in any case, I quite often step over the old discarded wooden ones when I'm out working. 

Ah Okay, either way no problem, just need to decide what to do with them. Trouble is OH has put them in situ which is awkward if I want them shaped a bit and needless to say he is reluctant to dismantle it again. Men! Hes very helpful but very unorganised

Ah Okay, either way no problem, just need to decide what to do with them. Trouble is OH has put them in situ which is awkward if I want them shaped a bit and needless to say he is reluctant to dismantle it again. Men! Hes very helpful but very unorganised

Garden centres and builder sell old and new as sleepers. The ones treated with creosote real old railway sleeps  usually continue to leach out the creosote when in situ and are extremely heavy also have the fixing holes apparent on them. The "new " usual oak ones are much lighter ( I can move them on my own ) sometimes  pressure treated to reduce the likelihood of rot if outside and a lovely light oak colour
Either could be used for a fireplace but would guess yours are the new ones

You could adze them, ie use a tool to mark them as if they were a bit old and battered.  I would use a natural oil to treat, Colron Danish Oil is a very good product, but it's not cheap and it will need two or three applications.  If you want to age brickwork or wood, get a bit of old soot and rub over lightly.