[BobTheFish]

I say you should ditch the sanding and the poly and just go with spraypaint and spray finishes. The sprays often take more time to build up, but the glossy sheens are far more "glossy" and "plastic" than trying to do a hand finish. And brush finishes leave more streaks than hand rubbed.

 

[BobTheFish]

well, regarding sanding poly, you should check out this concurrent topic as well: http://lumberjocks.com/topics/29042

oh yeah. Minwax stains are also finishes. They most definitely have a finishing component to them. I know by experience. So that's a dye, a stain, and a finish all in one.

I'd STILL recommend the spray finish for your final coat. Brushing and rubbing just don't give the same even glossy finish you get with sprays.