If two parts are good, will three be better? Awlgrip’s Awlbrite is a three-part mix designed to overcoat existing varnish, ideally the company’s Awlspar, a traditional tung-oil varnish. (Awlgrip’s third option, Awlwood, is a primer and clear wood system that’s applied to bare wood.) I called my pal Tobi Keitmeier, a professional varnisher (his company is Nautical Details, in Stamford, Connecticut) for his opinion on Awlbrite. “It’s a harder finish than varnish,” he said, “and its appearance is really, really good.” It can be polished to a piano finish, he added, making it excellent for tabletops and interior joinery. He lays on 10 or 12 coats, lets it cure for a couple of weeks, then wet-sands and polishes—he’s really into gloss.