Do you rub them between coats?
The grain in the wood does look like it should pop.
Be awhile before reduction and build up coats.
Repeat.
15 to 20 thin coats eventually when done.
Bout every 3 to 4 coats
Light Buff out with 4 ot steel wool
Hit with a tack cloth
Rinse with mineral spirits
Light sand with 600 and 800 dry
Rinse with mineral spirits with a soft tooth brush scrub
3 to 4 applicatims of cut tru oil again with 3 to 4 hr "drying"
Between
2 to 3 day drying after
Repeat.
Also alot of taping and covering of checkering at stages in the process.
The mineral spirits baths also aid in any tape residue removal.
Which can be a PITA if you dont pay attention to it well especially in the border outline.
When done.
Let "cure"2 to 3 weeks inside and outside.
Finish still hardens up over 3 4 5 months
Its a build up process.
Eventually it will hit a point where the final 2 wiping coats
Can be put on after the last reduction has been done
I like a grain look.
Those last couple of wiping coats will not be rubbed off to a "dry"
Most of the wiping coats I put on are wiped till I feel the drag Im comfortable knowing.
Its a feel thing
Too heavy the coat really does nothing cause ya took to much away.
Too light and you leave too much on and gravity causes it to sag , run or glacier on it when you set it to dry.
Everybody has different ways.
Some worry about steel wool issues embedded in the finish.
I do the mineral spirit rinses and 600 and 800 sanding to address that.
Its basically doing what works for you.