Thanks for all the input. I put the first coat of Flagship 2015 on this afternoon, and will try to keep the cats out of there for a few weeks. Used a $12. badger brush, and will try David's technique of soaking in thinner overnight. The badger brush is fab, although the stink of the varnish reminds me why I switched to rubbed finishes on the non-floating stuff years ago. I love Sam Maloof's poly/oil/wax cocktail, but I do not think it would do much for epoxy.