have some green Kool-Aid

I keep seeing people recommend (for anything, one trick pony), various new products -- Osmo, PolyOx, Rubio, Odie's, etc. I have never used any of these, and wonder what the attraction is. And I don't believe there is one finish that is best for everything. Finish needed for a picture frame that will never be touched or have anything on it is different that what is needed for a cutting board, dining table, or child's toy.

There is also the "secret recipe" of equal parts varnish, boiled linseed oil, and mineral spirits (or turpentine). Bob Flexner once wrote that he often was told about this "secret" that is not really a secret. It's basically the same as most common Danish oils with a little more varnish and a little less mineral spirits.

I also see people recommending "spar varnish" (often spar urethane) for interior furniture. Not sure why. These are "long oil" varnishes, meaning the receipe for the varnish before cooking has a higher percentage of oil to resin. It's design purpose is to be a more flexible finish. Many also have some UV inhibitors, although urethane is not very UV tolerant, so spar urethane seems like a contradiction. The only time I used Helmsman was (before I knew better) it lasted less than a year. The only time I have seen it used was on an interior desk that was then riddled with pen impressions, because, well it's softer (by design).