Gil; I think your problem is in the "thinned" part of your process, thick is the answer here, as in Silver's post. I have in the past added very fine wood dust to the Truoil to make it thick and then applied it liberally, sometimes more than once, steel wooling off the dry access back to the wood between coats. I haven't tried it but perhaps you could add some stain to th mix? --- John Can.