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You should be aware that the end grain of wood takes too much stain. Consequently it becomes too dark unless you take extra care to prevent this extra absorption. The open ends of the tracheal vessels, or the tracheids in some woods, absorb very avidly water and stains in general. Sometimes if you sponge the stain on to the end-grain and apply the stain while this part of the wood is wet, this will even up the color, ...Helpful Hints on Using a Water Stain

Spirit Varnishes The old types of spirit and volatile oil varnishes, such as shellac and dammar varnish, are still used for numerous purposes. They are made cold or without great heat by dissolving the resin in its best solvent, such as grain alcohol for shellac and turpentine or more commonly a turpentine substitute for dammar and mastic. Shellac substitutes, which are cheap, inferior finishes, also belong in this group ...Using Varnishes