Dust for fingerprints. Before handling sanded unfinished wood, scrub your hands with a fistful of sawdust to scour off natural skin oils. They can leave telltale marks on the wood, flawing the final finish. Stain small, intricate areas of furniture with a cotton swab. The swab not only gets into tiny crevices but also absorbs a lot of finish, making quick work of finely detailed staining jobs.
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Apply and wipe off penetrating oils with paper towels, not rags. Just place oil-sodden paper towels outside to dry before throwing them in the trash or they could spontaneously combust. In the bag. Pop a foam applicator into a self-locking plastic freezer bag until you re ready to apply the second coat. The airtight seal will prevent the finish from hardening the foam.