varnish blackface

[danoNC]

I'm planning on finishing my IV kit as a blackface. I've made quite a mess of the top and have already stained and sanded back to the wood twice. I now have what looks like small pockets where the water-based stain soaked in quite deep. So, after some searhces on blackface techniques, here's what my plan is:
Flat black lacquer directly onto the wood followed by spirit varnish (shellac in denat alcohol) and french polish. Does this seem reasonable or would clear lacquer over the black be a better option (I don't have spray equipment, so I would have to use the Stew-Mac aerosol lacquer). Thanks for any help,
Dan J.

[Dale Ludewig]

I don't think you want to do spirit varnish and then french polish- they're the same thing, basically. Flat black lacquer is good, but if it were me I'd follow up with a few coats of either more lacquer (clear sanding sealer) or some varnish before the FP. At some point before the FP, you're going to have to level the finish and not go back through the black lacquer. IMHO.