While building my rocker, I learned a new method that I will use forever.

Most of the labor in finishing has always been applying the finish, sanding between coats, rubbing it out, yada yada yada. At least for me it has been.

Well with my chair, most of the labor went into the actual sanding.  Working up through the grits, from 80, 150,220,400,800, then 2000 abralon.  And actually I found out later I could have done away with the 800 and abralon, and just went from 400 to 1000 abralon and I would have achieved the same results.  Because it really is hard for the human to discern in the touch between 1000 and 2000.

Anyway after going through these grits, the chair took on a glow, or shine before I even applied a coat of finish to it. In essence, the wood was burnished to shine.

Now the only actual finish I had to apply, was a wipe on wipe off coat of BLO, and a wipe on wipe off coat of Watco Teak Oil. The chair is beyond baby butt smooth, and there was not spray mess, no sanding between coats, no clean up of equipment etc. 

Now this won't work for high moisture areas such as kitchen cabinets, etc, but for projects that are to be enjoyed my touch and feel, vases, chairs, bowls, etc, this is a great fool proof method.

And, I got that really cool in the wood, grainy finish that you see on fine woodworking projects.  I always wondered how those craftsmen got that "Close to the surface" finish.

That sounds like a nice finish method.

Very similar to the method I use when finishing pens.

The get sanded to 2000 grit, then a coat of blo and then CA (super glue). I usually put about 6 coats on the pens though.

Thanks for sharing that, it is one I will put in the vault to use at some time down the road.