I have used Buckeye Burl for years but my experience has been only with scales. It is an absolutely beautiful burl and your stand will be superb if stabilized properly. Buckeye Burl is a very soft, porous burl and must be stabilized and I would also reinforce it with vulcanized fiber liner/spacer or even brass backing. I have my burl stabilized from a small LLC in Wisconsin, River Ridge Products, LLC at
Turning Blanks | Pen Blanks | Available in AcryliWood and Dymondwood. It cut them to length, mark them and send them off. Takes about two weeks or so. But they come back ready to work. They are really the stabilization experts and are very reasonably priced. To answer your question, the stabilization is infused through the wood and I have never had to stain it but RRP can provide that service as well. I just use the clear stabilization. All you need to so is cut, sand and buff. Never needs polish or other coatings. Good luck with your stand. It should really turn out nice, the colors in Buckeye Burl...green, black, gold, yellows will just POP!