I know there are a hundred different ways to apply finish and everyone has their favorites. I haven't used waterlox before but I'm about to start finishing a heart pine table- and it will be our everyday kitchen table, so it needs some durability. I've used Sutherlands Polymerized Tung oil (PTO) on our dining room table and love it but I need a varnish for an everyday table I think.
1) With other varnishes (poly), I have started with a coat or two brushed on to help get the build/leveling started, light sanding to get rid of raised grain, dust, etc, and then wiped on the last one or two coats to get more of that oil/hand rubbed feel. I just feel like brushing on the final coat leads to a plastic feel, I'm not sure why. I think the thinner wiped coats dry faster and get less dust, etc.
I see most folks wipe Waterlox, their own instructions are to brush it, I don't want a super thick epoxy look, but I do want some build in this case.
Sound reasonable?
2) Anyone put it on over BLO or some other oil finish? Waterlox does yellow the pine a bit on my test pieces, I may darken it with PTO or BLO first and then topcoat with Waterlox. Maybe mix with waterlox for first coat?
3) Rubbing out (weeks/months later)- I've used wool lube and steel wool with good effect on lacquer. How do you guys rub out waterlox?
Thanks in advance.