I pulled together a one-page cheat sheet that maps sanding progression (P120→P180→P220, mineral spirits wipe to read scratches) to a 3‑coat wiping varnish routine — 50/50 varnish/mineral spirits, thin flood, 45‑minute flashes at 68°F, P320 scuff between coats. If you want the PDF or have tweaks — especially for waterborne at 60–65°F — I’d like to compare notes and tighten the timings.
For waterborne at 60–65°F, I get cleaner flow by pre-raising the grain with a damp wipe, letting it dry, then a very light P320 pass before the first coat; adding 5–8% extender (GF Enduro Extender: Search Products | General Finishes) lets me stretch flashes to about an hour without lap marks… If you don’t want additives, “warm the can” in a lukewarm water bath and you’ll get similar leveling.
I get more even results swapping the P320 scuff for a gray Scotch-Brite lightly dampened with mineral spirits — the edges don’t get burned through and the next coat still keys well. For waterborne in the low 60s, keeping the finish and the workpiece at the same temp for 20–30 minutes before the first coat noticeably tames orange peel; Jeff Jewitt explains the temp/evap balance here: https://homesteadfinishingproducts.com/Pages/Articles.htm. Minor caveat: the pad leaves a slightly duller surface, so I plan one extra wipe to hit full gloss.
Strain the 50/50 mix; the ‘thin flood’ lays cleaner, fewer nibs. Cheesecloth works in a pinch.