by Mike G » 16 Feb 2022, 09:28
The technique he suggests is similar to the one I have been outlining, but he doesn't allow so long between coats. Maybe he lives somewhere much warmer than us. The difference, though, is in the mix. He is describing a thinned varnish only, with no oil in it. We all know that Americans like a glossier finish than we do, generally. We also all know that oils on their own take a long time to dry and are never protective...but they make the grain stand out nicely. I think the oil/ varnish/ white spirit mix gives the best of all worlds, with a semi-gloss finish, good grain highlighting, and a robust hard-wearing surface. As he says, though, this technique, whilst bomb-proof and easy, does take a while to build up sufficient thickness.