heartwood wrote:cort, I agree with al's suggestion of shellac...it will adhere to almost any finish and any finish will adhere to it...check this out: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shellac
I have used 'general finishes' gel stain and finished it with their clear coat product...i'm not an expert at clear finishes and haven't experimented with shellac flakes and pigments...
good luck!
...jade
ps...I would say sorry about separating from your partner but it sounds like it was a good choice for you...
Thanks, Jade. It has been really positive for me.
And thanks, all, for the advice ! I'm making progress!