This new baby of mine is as thirsty as a sailor on shore leave. I am coating with a thin layer of oil once a day and will continue to do so until the bore stops absorbing oil--if it absorbs oil it will absorb (and lose) water even more voraciously--the less volatility, the better.
Partially untrue. Wood has the capacity to absorb more oil than it needs, and this has been scientifically proven. Eventually it will restore itself (partially) if it has been over oiled but it's never worth the risk. If you insist, I cannot stop you from taking those risks, only head a warning as I've witnessed too many tragedies of other people going about the same practice thinking those same things.