For starters there's many different materials used on tables but hey,you are only interested in my favorite wood and high use finish . I build furniture with wood having color and grain I want,that's to say if I want walnut I use walnut. I don't try faking it with stain. I love maple,so fiddle back maple it is. I sand highly figured maple to 320 and finish with Enduro water-based, two-component, post-catalyzed urethane.