Things I learned about varnish:
1. Use the cheapest China bristle brush you can find for all the coats except the last coat. Don't clean them, throw them out. 2. The family is under strict orders to save all Pringles Singles cups and all Dannon Yogurt cups. I pour a little varnish in the little cup and then when I use that up, I add a little more. I really like the Pringle Singles cups. They have a sloping tapered bottom that will trap any trash that gets in the vanish from the brush. When you finish varnishing, throw away the little cups. I'm allowed to do that, I'm the Dad. 3. I will use the badger hair brush on the last coat, that is, provided I actually get to the last coat. 4. On the third and consecutive coats, I sand with 320 wet or dry paper and I wet sand every coat there after. I use 600 wet for the last sanding just before the final coat. 5. It is best to wet sand the varnish over the kitchen sink when the wife is out shopping. 6. The new can of varnish gets poured into small water bottles. I cut the little ring off the neck of the bottle and wipe the rim after every pour. If you don't wipe off the rim, it requires the largest pipe wrench in the tool box to get the blasted lid off. 7. I made a stand for a little funnel. The little cups sit under the funnel. Little filters sit in the funnel. 8. Once you have a little varnish in the little cups, then add the thinner. 3/8" of varnish and 3/8" of thinner covers a lot of wood. 9. Think small. Use small quantities. A little goes a long way. 10. 50% thin first coat, 75% thin second coat, then full strength after that. 11. After I pour varnish from the water bottles. I squeeze the bottle and bring the level of the varnish all the way up to the very top of the bottle. This lets no air in the varnish and keeps it fresh. Little 7 oz bottles would be better. Opening the can of varnish all the time lets too much air get in contact with the varnish. If you think about it, I will go through 1/2 a can of varnish and the air has yet to get to the other half of the can. 12. Hang the pieces up vertically. This might only let a little dust and dirt get on the finish. 13. Varnish has force like gravity. Any particle of dirt will find it's way into the finish no matter how careful you are. 14. The varnish looks pretty bad after you drop the piece on the floor. Try not to do this.
P.S. Brian, are you new here? We, at this web site, have only one purpose; helping others. We're not going into attack-mode with inexperienced sailors.