I was looking for guidance on mixing up Sam Maloof type finishes

Right now I am using

1/3 Boiled Linseed Oil
1/3 Minwax semigloss polyurethane varnish
1/3 paint thinner

My questions:

Which is preferable BLO or Tung oil?

What are the best varnish brands?

Any opinions on gloss/semigloss/matt varnish?

Is there an advantage to using old fashioned varnish rather than poly?

Is any old off the shelf paint thinner acceptable, or are there better and worse choices?

My SOP is to rag on the finish, let is sit for a few minutes, then sand off the first coat or two with wet/dry sand paper. Later coats get ragged on and wiped off without the sanding.