Bix pre stain is probably shellac base. making your own is cheaper. Pre
stain it or it will look like crap. Pine does not stain well. Remember
pine darkens alot on its own over time and oil poly darkens over time.
Water base poly darkens little. Do tests on scrap and plan on a shade
darker in a year. Even no stain and water base poly will be 1-2 shades
darker in a few years. Oil poly yellows, water base does not.