Jack,
From the other comments, advice and my halfvast varnishing experience, I'd say there are no shortcuts to a good finish. If you practice your varnish technique and develop your skills, that'll be the only short cut that produces the results you're looking for. A some pricey ($40) book "Brightwork" by Rebecca Wittman is one of the best I've read. Rebecca makes her living at it so she knows her subject well. When you consider a good badger brush and a gallon of varnish will run you twice the price of the book, maybe it's not so pricey after all.
Hope this is useful.
Geo C.