How do I get a finish on wood that's as bright as when the polyurethane is fresh?
For critical color &quot;warmth&quot; and &quot;color pop&quot; on fine wood projects (e.g. musical instruments like guitars) drying oils (e.g. tung oil, boiled linseed oil) are often used. Sometimes they are then hand-rubbed only, or wax, lacquer, shellac, or even poly are applied on top.
I recommend you visit Woodworking Stack Exchange and search under the &quot;Finish&quot; tag.