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Paul
The luster is not the hard part! I did not realize that was the question you were asking. Never attempt to finish with a brush, rag or finger with "finish" on it! Use gloss finishes every time and buff the finish to the desired gloss afterward.

Flattening agents used to reduce gloss are not good for the finish strength. Some are not as bad as others, but none add anything to the finish. Most are huge deficits to the finish.

The good old ways are still best on gloss. Rottenstone on a felt rag with mineral oil for a carrier will produce the ultimate eggshell luster.

Make sure the finish is well-cured before the rub-out. Thirty days in very dry conditions is plenty.
art

Best stuff I have ever found. Their Marine Spar-Varnish is great stuff, and their tung-oil sealer will penetrate wood like nothing else I've seen. You can mix it up with artists paint and get a really nice deep color.

A bit pricy, but it keeps well and a little goes a long way.

http://www.sutherlandwelles.com/

Art, I'm not understanding that line. Do you mean don't try to do a complete final finish that way, but plan to rub it out instead?

I understand all the principles you have stated, but I still have a hard time getting a good rubbed out finish. It always seems to turn out uneven, and with some rub-throughs. Like I said earlier, it's achieving uniformity that gives me fits.

Maybe I'm not getting it thick enough (I do allow plenty of cure time), but if the finish gets too thick it still looks sort of plastic, albeit rubbed out plastic.

Maybe my goal is too lofty, or maybe I'm just an old fumble-fingers.

Not ready to give up, though.

Paul

Paul
Correct, the final step in the best finish is a rubdown with rottenstone. If you are finding "rub-throughs" (assuming here that means layers of finish are obvious...) you are getting adhesion problems and creating layers... Add coats sooner and give a quick rubdown with ultrafine Bear-Tex pads if the finish has cured solidly... And above all else rub the finish down more.
art

Get Gun Savr CP Pro Custom oil hand rubbing gunstock finish clear gloss from brownells if they still sell it. You will not be disappointed it is a lot better than tru oil. Then rub it down lightly with some of brownells super fine grit rubbing compound! I did 2 mousers with it and they turned out great.