I'm kind of like you, in that I try to get it perfect, but eventually, I'll let it go with some minor imperfections that no one but myself seems to notice. I learned from one of my employers, who did a lot of built in furniture pieces in his renovation projects, about finish sanding with oil. After spraying on the final coat of polyurethane, dry sanding between coats, we would wet sand with mineral oil, up to 400 grit. I adapted the method, but use boiled linseed oil as the lubricant, because it acts as a finish in its own right, and i will progress all the way to 800 grit. I learned of a trick for open grained wood, from a gunsmith friend who's specialty was high end gunstocks, but have never tried it myself. After final sanding and staining, if applicable, he would fill the grain with epoxy. I'm not certain if he thinned it, or just went with straight smooth on. Wiping off all the excess before it cured, he would allow it to set, and finish sand up to 800 grit. Then he would follow with several coats of hand-rubbed oil finish. Furniture wax is another option to gloss over any slight imperfections, plus it adds another layer of protection from the elements. Currently, I'm experimenting with boiled soybean oil, because it has similar polymerization properties to linseed oil, but it doesn't stink, and is completely non-toxic. I use a paste mixture of 4 parts boiled soybean oil to one part beeswax, (with a half part bacon grease just cause I had it kicking around, so I threw it in the pot) to waterproof my bows, and my sinew strings, as well as any leather I have around, my knife blades, etc. etc. As you might guess, I'm a little obsessed with finishes. Next project will be an old-school tree resin and turpentine varnish.
