Ah, finishing, the part of my projects where I am assured of screwing up.
I used a kind of lacquer that's intended for brush-on [not the usual spray-on]. It gave me a quick-drying protective surface that became the base for two more coats of polyurethane.
It turned out fairly well, but my next project of similar size and scope will probably use a low-pressure spray-on system. I'm beginning to get annoyed at the little puddles of finish I discover after brushed on varnish has dried.
next: the bookcases installed
to: Kohn's Corner