<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: medium; FONT-FAMILY: AGaramond Bold"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=windows-1251"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1522" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <P> <DIV>I always use Varnish. (The  very best I can find,  BTW.) Varnish,  alone will not be a very good finish, IMO. I usually put two coats of varnish on. These are to:  1. Permeate/seal the wood with natural resins. 2. To get the "golden" color that I want.  (Hate laquered boards. They are all "white" and ickky IMO!)</DIV> <DIV>Once the Varnish is dry enough to sand, I then use the High Grade Varathane, (2-3 coats, sanding between each coat.) It's  a lot of work, but well worth it on a "good" piano.</DIV> <DIV>Another  reason for using Varnish as the base coat is,  on olde boards there is already Varnish in the wood, (NO you can't get it all out!  DAMHIK!) The new varnish will bond with the olde and give acceptable results, IMO.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Joe Garrett, R.P.T. (Oregon)</DIV> <DIV>Captain, Tool Police</DIV> <DIV>Squares R I</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <P></P></BODY></HTML>