It's up front expensive, but in using the Epifanes I found that I don't need to use oil finishes or thinners. In fact my friend advised that oil additives might be avoided. The Epifanes is so thick and dries slowly enough that it puts down a very nice heavy first coat without much else. The buildup with one coat is equivalent to about 3 thinner coats. I do put the rod section on the turner and let it rotate for a few hours. Drying is fairly slow but very even. I'm using Pearsall's Gossamer which really soaks up the varnish, much more so than I would have thought. I use a plastic syringe to apply a drop at a time and spread it with a bodkin. The bodkin can also "burnish" the varnish into the threads, but very gently. As I've thought about this over time, it seems that overly rapid drying and the ability/inability of silk to soak up the varnish is my problem. Also one must stir the varnish thoroughly before applying each time. The Epifanes is so high in solids relative to solvent, some of those issues are addressed by the material. By the way I have no financial interest in promoting Epifanes.