Wiped the benches down with mineral spirits, let dry then painted on the coat of the extra thin clear. Let sit an hour and gave it a wipe. Wooo! This is pretty excellent. So much color. Some of the grain is doing a 3d thing.
Tempted to do the table too asap but figure i should stick with the plan and see the benches through first. Tomorrow the benches will get a coat of the polyx gloss.