In answer to a PM on the topic, this is how I use regular oil-based wipe-on polyurethane as a finish on hardwood/furniture/radio cabinets (not airplanes - so far...) :
Start with bare or stripped wood
Sand/fill/color match filler as with any finish
Sand all over with 220
Mix up Timbermate wood filler as described in the instructions as a grain filler - scoop out some, add water a little at a time until it is about the consistency of latex house paint. Brush/squeege over all surfaces, finish with squeege/putty knife at low angle at about a 45 degree angle to the grain and a lot of pressure. This forces it into the pores and grain and removes excess. Do it enough to leave a haze over entire surface, any excess is just wasted effort later. Let dry a few hours or overnight.
Sand with grain with 220-240, remove all haze from filler. The intent it to just leave it in the pores and grain.
Shake up polyurethane can, pour into paper towel or rag, liberally, and just wipe it around everwhere. Don't leave puddles but cover everything well.
Wait at least 2-3 hours, or overnight, until most of smell is gone and the surface is not sticky. This week, at around 100 degrees and 10-15% humidity, I could go at about an hour but it usually is a pretty slow drying material
Sand with the grain, 400 grit enough to smooth it everywhere and leave no shiny or untouched spots. You should get dust and no clogging, if it clogs, wait longer.
repeat, same thing, coat, wait long enough, sand with 400.
I repeat for at least 4 cycles, 6 makes it mirror smooth if desired. Last coat, don't sand it, you are done.
I usually use satin, but if you wait a few days and use gloss, you can rub it out shiny. Gloss usually takes much longer to dry.
Let it sit a few days before putting any pressure or load, but after a few days-week, it is really tough stuff. Good luck ever getting it off later, sandpaper is your best bet, because most chemicals won't touch it.
Brett
p.s. Here are some pictures. This was just some hardware store mahogany plywood, not the CDX construction stuff, but not anything special. The grain filler was tan/maple color. The color is natural with no stain. The surface is completely smooth, there is no grain texture at all, but obviously you can see clearly down to the wood. Ignore the chips, I didn't bother filling and matching them for a test piece.
Also, while this is Minwax Wipe-On Poly, satin, straight from the can, all it really is the the regular oil-based Minwax poly that has been heavily thinned with mineral spirits. You could easily make your own that way, but, I don't use a lot of it and a pint can of the pre-thinned stuff it plenty for my purposes
And no, I will not show the other side, where I tried the water-based type! I am sure it is just a matter of my poor technique, but, "poor" is the operative word. Suffice it to say, the oil-based side is much better.