John in NM
Doesn't seem like a great idea for anything that will see much handling or use - presumably this is why it seems to be ok for a turned vessel or similar decorative objects. I doubt I would put it alone on a table top though.

However, I can't agree that poly or conversion varnish are the be all and end all of finishing. They certainly can be made to look very good in skilled hands, indistinguishable from oil or whatever. But the end result is the sole point to a process only in commercial work. For many of us here, half the fun is learning some of the antique methods, or perhaps to simply enjoy the application of the finish itself. The only reason I use turpentine for thinning is because I like the smell

Although the sprayed on stuff may be more durable in a technical sense, in use I find oil finishes more forgiving. In use everything gets scratched, dinged, marked, etc. I find scratches much more noticeable on factory furniture than stuff with a nice oil finish. In many cases, another application of oil is trivial and disguises the inevitable blemishes as well as anything. Commercial producers can't expect their customers to do this of course, but I'm talking more about items we make for our own use.

Then there is the learning curve, and the expense of most spray set ups. The single most expensive thing I use in finishing is the oil itself. Even though my first efforts were not as good as later ones, they were certainly acceptable - the learning curve with oil is a gentle one.

I'll stick to oils and shellac, occasionally some poly from a can. Nothing wrong with conversion varnishes and the like, they're just not for me.