Minwax may be cheap in price but it goes on nice and looks very good. In fact, Chris Minnick, IIRC, rated it number one in a FWW article on commercial wiping varnishes he wrote several years ago. In my own experience it goes on very easily with a paper towel or, my new favorite, a balled up microfiber cloth. I've never found a lint free piece of cotton yet, so I don't use it. It also looks great. The gloss version is very clear with none of that cloudy, plastic look that many claim. It does darken some over time - just like conventional varnishes.

John