can this product be "wiped" on?

"Wiped on" is the only way I use Varathane now. I take a paper towel, dab it into the can, and carefully rub it onto the wood. I just did this with some repurposed cigar boxes the other night - came out beautiful. The finish seams to be a little more satiny than when you brush on the Varathane - the first project I did, I brushed on many coats and the pieces were a bit shiny. I prefer the wiped finish, it looks great on both of the Cigar Box Guitars that I've built and, as I mentioned, the two cigar boxes I just redid. You want to avoid putting on very thick layers, as well as leaving any gobs or lines of the finish, just like with anything else you're putting on wood. General rule of thumb with this stuff - if it looks white or creamy on the wood, it's too thick. Be careful sanding between layers, since the wiped on finish, for me, is often thinner than brushed on finish. Side note - The guitars only have Varathane on the neck. The wood for the necks came from an old dining room table, it's heavy and dense. The wood was stripped of finish, painted with a variety of colors and chemicals to reach a certain patina, and then I wiped on the Varathane. Came out beautiful, and the finish is holding up really well.

I just started working with polymer clay. Should I get the gloss or the semi-gloss? Is there a difference between the finished product?

My wife works with polymer clay. Gloss gives depth and extra dimension to the projects. It also enhances metallic clays, such as gold and silver. She would never use satin or semi-gloss over metallics, because all they do is to dull the shine. Satin and semi-gloss are great for projects where a rough, unpolished, or "natural" look is desired, such as Steampunk projects. Hope this helps and best of luck with your creations!

Is this appropriate for a kitchen table? And will it be cloudy when dry?

Not cloudy at all. Cloudy when it goes on but crystal clear dry. We used it on the cabinets and haven't had any issues with it chipping after being bumped or knocked.

How hard is it when dry?

I would say comparable to a regular poly, but it doesn't seem to crack or flake if you dent wood with a thick coating.I've coated kid's toys and guitar necks in this. It holds up nicely.EDIT - Took a trip to Graceland with the nine-year-old. I made a Cigar Box Guitar for him and gave it to him in Graceland. At one point he wanted to do something special, so we scratched the back of the guitar's neck on the wall outside Graceland. The finish didn't tear or flake off, it just dented in like the rest of the wood.

ASIN	B000FPCKBW
Best Sellers Rank	#253,321 in Home Improvement ( See Top 100 in Home Improvement ) #151 in Household Varnishes
Brand	Varathane
Brand Name	Varathane
Compatible Material	Wood
Country of Publication	USA
Coverage	340-370 sq ft/ gallon
Customer Reviews	4.5 out of 5 stars 2,245 Reviews
Finish Type	Gloss
Global Trade Identification Number	00026748200069
Item Form	Liquid
Liquid Volume	8 Fluid Ounces
Manufacturer	Rust-Oleum
Material	Polyurethane (PU)
Material Type	Polyurethane (PU)
Product Finish Type	Gloss
Recommended Uses For Product	Interior
UPC	026748200069

Rust-Oleum Varathane 200061H 1/2-Pint Interior Crystal Clear

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