Originally Posted by Alan Turner
I used to make an oil varnish mixture, but it was fresh varnish (a MUST), thinner or naptha, and BLO. I used about 1/6 BLO. Then, I started using just Original Waterlox, which is either 27% or 42% solids, per Jeff Jewitt. It dries faster, and builds quicker, without appearing to be a film finish.
So, for speed, I use a first coat of BLO and let it dry for a bout 2-3 days. It dries quite slowly. Then a couple of coats of very blonde dewaxed shellac, which dries quite quickly. Then a couple of coats of thin coats of Waterlox, but on the top only. This has been plenty of protection, and is repairable. I don't use Poly at all, but I can't say why I don't like it. Perhaps it is just too new, and runs agains my knuckle dragging grain.