Let the oil stand for about 10 minutes. Then wipe off as much as you can with a soft, lint free rag. Allow the oil to dry for two days before using the piece. Some people apply a coat of wax after the oil dries, but I prefer to leave it as it is. The young finish is beautiful but has no character.
Character develops with time.
Use the piece as you would normally, and enjoy the increasingly subtle and complex finish. Mike Dunbar teaches Windsor chairmaking in Hampton, N.H., and is a contributing editor to Fine Woodworking. His Windsor Institute also gives classes in Milk Painting.