Another from the pages of Woodsmith

[Tim Cannon]

My first real try at a hand rubbed finish

[Matthew Zabriskie]

What was your finishing process for this? Looks glassy smooth! (amatuer here....)

[Tim Cannon]

Sanded to 600, gel stain, 5 coats of semi-gloss poly sanded to 600 between coats. Then I let it cure for 10 days, then wet sanded with micro-mesh up to 12000, then rubbed the finish with pumice, then brought the shine up with rottenstone, then finished with a coat of paste wax. I'm an amateur too - I think the pros on here would have accomplished the same finish with a lot less work - but it DID come out nice.