Here are some Ideas I have tried...
Besides the acetone, sometimes I have even had to bleech wood to get it even...
then If the wood is uneven or to light I stain it, I personally have had better luck with oil based stains, but maybe it is just me.
I usually use one or two thin coats of Minwax wipe on poly.
Then I start mixing truoil 50-50 with the wipe on poly, then slowly go to 100% truoil in a few coats. When it looks good I finish with a couple of coats of wipe on poly. I use the poly as a sealer and to make the finish waterproof.
Remember if using poly you want to re-coat right away or you have to sand to get a mechanical bond.
Jerry
