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Chas, speaking for myself...
I'm new enough to turning that I'm still experimenting with finishes. My current kick is a coat of tung oil/varnish mix (Formby's Tung Oil Finish), followed by a few coats of spray can lacquer. The oil/varnish tends to penetrate and darken the wood (which I like), and the lacquer allows for either a high buffed gloss or more of a satin finish if I don't buff it out. It also dries much more quickly, so I can get a finished product in a day or so instead of the two or three days it was taking me to build a few coats of oil/varnish blend alone.
My current personal preference is for glossy pieces, although I know there are a lot of people (especially woodworker types) who prefer a less shiny look. I like the look of glossy lacquer, but I'm not that fond of glossy polyurethane. I've also seen a number of comments saying the glossy pieces tend to sell better. I'm going to be finding out for myself in the next month or so as I start trying to sell a few of my pieces. Satin or glossy, I am becoming fond of sprayed finishes, since I tend to get a more consistent with less effort when I spray the finish as opposed to wiping it on. (Like I said though, I'm still learning and experimenting, so next month I could be singing a whole new song.)
Regarding your flexibility question, I don't really know the answer. My past flatwork experience with spray lacquer is limited to a few boxes, but one of them is a pool cue case that I've used weekly for over a year and a half, in hot, cold, wet, and dry weather, and even though it's constructed of thin glued panels, it's not moved a bit. (It's been even carried across a few parking lots during rainstorms with no apparent consequences.) The lacquer is also showing no signs of degradation or peeling. I sometimes wet sand with 600 grit paper before final buffing, and I've not seen any evidence that the moisture has gotten into the wood. The lacquer has proven to be very durable.
What are the preferred finishes in your neck of the woods?
I'm new enough to turning that I'm still experimenting with finishes. My current kick is a coat of tung oil/varnish mix (Formby's Tung Oil Finish), followed by a few coats of spray can lacquer. The oil/varnish tends to penetrate and darken the wood (which I like), and the lacquer allows for either a high buffed gloss or more of a satin finish if I don't buff it out. It also dries much more quickly, so I can get a finished product in a day or so instead of the two or three days it was taking me to build a few coats of oil/varnish blend alone.
My current personal preference is for glossy pieces, although I know there are a lot of people (especially woodworker types) who prefer a less shiny look. I like the look of glossy lacquer, but I'm not that fond of glossy polyurethane. I've also seen a number of comments saying the glossy pieces tend to sell better. I'm going to be finding out for myself in the next month or so as I start trying to sell a few of my pieces. Satin or glossy, I am becoming fond of sprayed finishes, since I tend to get a more consistent with less effort when I spray the finish as opposed to wiping it on. (Like I said though, I'm still learning and experimenting, so next month I could be singing a whole new song.)
Regarding your flexibility question, I don't really know the answer. My past flatwork experience with spray lacquer is limited to a few boxes, but one of them is a pool cue case that I've used weekly for over a year and a half, in hot, cold, wet, and dry weather, and even though it's constructed of thin glued panels, it's not moved a bit. (It's been even carried across a few parking lots during rainstorms with no apparent consequences.) The lacquer is also showing no signs of degradation or peeling. I sometimes wet sand with 600 grit paper before final buffing, and I've not seen any evidence that the moisture has gotten into the wood. The lacquer has proven to be very durable.
What are the preferred finishes in your neck of the woods?