I was using Varathane ultimate water based poly (which I've had good experience with in the past) on a small panel (12x18) and was padding it on -- which has worked well for me in the past. I didn't have trouble getting an even, thin coat, but I found that the application marks did not level out. In the past, I have found that it doesn't look great when wet (brush or rag marks) but that it dries nice and even, but that didn't happen this time. In researching this, I saw a suggestion that my shop may have been too warm and dry so the finish was drying too quickly to level out properly. It was 75-80 degrees and quite dry in the shop, so maybe that was it. I was also applying it over an india-ink dye on the wood.
Any thoughts on this, either brand or conditions? I know that some of you will say that you should only spray WB poly, which has not been my experience, and I don't have a sprayer so...
Thanks for your help,
-dan