How to Use Colored Varnish

Set out a layer of newspapers to protect the work area.

Gather your brushes, clean rags, steel wool pads and mineral spirits so that they're nearby when needed.

Clean the wood to be treated with a steel wool pad dipped in about a cup of mineral spirits mixed with 2 tsp. linseed oil.

Use a clean rag to dry the wood.

Pour enough varnish to do the first coat into a separate container, and dilute it with 10 percent mineral spirits (1 part mineral spirits to 10 parts varnish).

Use a lamb's wool pad to rub this diluted varnish into the wood. Work with the grain.

Let that coat dry at least 6 hours but not more than 20.

Apply the second coat with the pad or a brush, but don't use the diluted formula.

Put on up to five coats, depending on how much wear you anticipate the surface to receive.