John, Why a vacuum box? Could not a vacuum BAG be used, the same as vacuum-bagging a boat during the fiberglass lay-up process?
Personally, I long ago settled on an English red finish, using Behlen's blood red stain, then about 20 coats of Tru-Oil, knocked back with 400-grit dry paper after every 7 or 8 coats. Once I've achieved the coverage I'm happy with, I put it away for at least a month, until it's gotten as hard as it's going to get. Then I knock the shine off it with 0000 steel wool, used very judiciously, until I end up with a satin finish. I do not, and would not, own a gun that I don't hunt and shoot with. I've never had a problem in maintaining a Tru-oil finish, rain or shine.
