Brent

The usual procedure with any kind of varnish or lacquer is to build up, say, 10
coats, level it, then polish by going through the grits up to about 2000 - 2500,
with a final rub of some fine polish like  a Meguire’s car polish.  I don't have
spray equipment.   It is not a mirror like you get with power equipment, but one
of my guitar heroes, Nick Lucas (he wrote "tiptoe through the tulips") said he
didn't want the finish to reflect into his audience’s eyes.  Not that I have an
audience other than my grandkids.

On this one I used Min-Wax wipe on poly.  After I leveled it I had enough
witness lines that I tried another couple of coats with more leveling.  I
couldn't get rid of them, so I finished with 1500 grit and wiped on a very thin,
even coat, and called it quits.  Not perfect, but OK by me

We also used a good grade of marine spar varnish on interior AYC on a boat we
launched in 1980, it just completed its 39th sailing season and the varnish
still looks great.

Ed Minch