If you are talking about WB poly, I would think it would not stick to the Danish oil.

There are long varnishes and short varnishes, and they are both used for different reasons.

Long varnish (spar varnish) has more oil than short varnish. Because of the higher oil content it is softer, more flexible and is better suited for outdoor use. Why, because under normal conditions will move along with the wood.

Short varnish has less oil and more resins. Its harder and more resistant to scratches, but its not very flexible. Its better suited for indoor use such as floors, counters and furniture.

Oil based poly, oil based polyurethane, urethane, alkyd varnish, phenolic varnish and varnish are really the same thing. The only real difference is the ratio of oil to resins and thinners. Most polys have other chemical compounds that will make them harder and in my experience more cloudy than varnish. A satin poly also has an added compound that helps refract light, creating a satin look and increases the cloudiness. Water-based polys are the most cloudy of all finishes.

IMO, we as turners love a beautiful looking bowl with a fabulous grain. Why would we apply a finish that clouds, or hides what we love? If you want the grain to pop, stick to oil.

The way a properly assembled segmented piece is glued up makes it very stable. So choosing a long or short varnish is really a personal preference. That said I prefer a long varnish.

Bruce Kamp wrote on Jun 24^th, 2016 at 10:11pm:

Absolutely not. That's what's in the brown buffing compounds bars (aka tripoli) people buy to put on their buffing wheels. (what's old is new again)

Another alternative to knock down the gloss is #0000 steel wool with a little mineral spirits