Foam works, but if you use the box store brand, not JENN, your results will be poor. Use a wide mouth container, DON’T scrape the brush against the lip to remove excess, just press it gently against the side. With foam, don’t “brush”, just stroke. Get as much material on as quickly as you can and then let the varnish do its thing. The more you monkey with it, the worse it’ll look. That’s the hardest part of the process! Let it alone!! Long, quick, even strokes. Once you lose the wet edge, you’re done. Go back over it & you’ll for sure have a hot mess. Thin the varnish, you may need to thin as you work it. Your job is to get the varnish onto the work as evenly and quickly as you are able, the varnish does the rest!! Don’t apply when the sun is on the work or the wind is blowing. Early morning as soon as the dew is off. The slower the solvents flash off, the longer the varnish has to self level, and THAT is what makes the shine! Cool, still mornings are the stuff of which varnish dreams are made!