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I'm awfully old-fashioned. I use a 6:4 mixture of damar and mastic, I make up the varhishes in the studio using good turpentine and the best quality resins at a 5# cut (proportions: five pounds of resin to a gallon of turpentine)
This mixture is easier to manipulate than damar alone. I apply the varnish with a 2" badger sash brush and "lay off" the surface with the tip of the brush as the varnish tacks up to eliminate a high gloss.
I've heard a lot of good things lately about Gamvar, which is a synthetic varnish (I believe methylacrylate resin). The resin is dissolved in mineral spirits, and is reported to remain dependably water clear over time, as well as readily removable in MS indefinitely. It sounds good, but I haven't tried it yet myself . . . mostly because I don't see a pressing need to replace a method I've found suitable. Those who have tried it report that it doesn't lend itself to manipulation in application, so what you see is what you get!
I'm glad you haven't been "egged" ! (Maybe vandals in Brazil have better sense?)
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