There are various ways to apply varnish to wood: with a sprayer, a brush or a pad. The latter is done by hand with a fuzz-free cotton cloth and linen.

Materials: gum lacquer or special varnish for use with pads (colorless or colored, depending on our taste), varnishing alcohol, vaseline oil, nitro solvent, wood primer, fine-grade steel wool or fine-grade sandpaper, a cotton pad, flat brush, gloves and safety mask.

Preparing the surface
The surface should first be treated with a cloth soaked in varnishing alcohol. Then polish the surface with sandpaper wrapped around a block of wood, working always in the direction of the vein of the wooden surface. Remove the dust this creates, then apply wood primer over the entire surface. To do this dilute the primer by 30 percent with nitro solvent, and apply this to the surface with a brush. Let dry for 20 minutes, then rub gently with the steel wool until the surface is smooth to the touch. Remove the dust and clean the brush.

Making the varnishing pad
Fold a piece of white knitted wool and add a few drops of varnish. Knead it well. Wrap it in a linen square and use it soaked with alcohol. To be sure the pad works properly test it on an old board that has been prepared for varnishing.

Applying the first pad
Roll up a large amount of cotton swabs or fold up a piece of knitted wool. Pour varnishing alcohol in the center of the cloth, forming a nest and wrap it all up in a piece of used cotton. Knead this ball for some time, until the excess alcohol evaporates and the pad becomes more flexible. Fashion it into an oval shape. Rub the wood in figure-eight's as the pad gradually discharges so that the powder of the pumice stone penetrates the smallest pores and makes the surface smooth.

Applying the varnish
Rub the pad over the surface quickly and regularly, without stopping or going back over spots that have already been varnished. Then rub the piece of furniture with broad figure-eight's in the direction of the vein of the wood, repeating this several times to leave the surface perfectly smooth. When the pad has gone completely dry, once again wet the knitted wool, roll up the material and add a drop of vaseline oil so that it will slide easily. The applications should be uniform. When you achieve the desired effect, again moisten the pad and leave another uniform coat, always moving in the direction of the vein of the wood.

Drying
You should let the wood dry for at least two days so that the varnish toughens and you can eventually apply a second layer with the pad, using strokes that are progressively softer.

Finish
Once the wood is dry, polish the surface to remove traces of oil and all the different strokes. Prepare another pad, wrapped in silk and moisten it slightly with alcohol. Rub the pad over the whole surface and you will thus achieve a shiny finish.