Rangemaster, I let it soak about an hour, I rub it in with my hands, wear those disposable gloves. Then I like the final wipe down before it is semi-dry, only because I think it is less work, but it may take more coats. I have a Korean stock that didn't show the cc untill coat #four, and then it has to be in just the right light. It's looking good now. Everybody does it a little differant depending on how you're set up, or how many you are doing at the same time. HTH.....Frank