store it would hold a paint stir stick up. i’m not sure if that’s part of your fail or not. also it’s not supposed to be a smooth finish. if you use a natural bristle brush and apply it as smooth as you can then put a wax finish over it i think you might like the results much better. i actually use a water based flat poly more now a days. although it dries quickly between coats it really needs a couple days to cure, poly a week. i hope this helps a tiny bit. it really can coat in one, two at most if it’s the right thickness. 