DerbyDad03 wrote:

This site seems to do a decent job of differentiating between varnish
and polyurethane. Well, at least is seems like a decent job to a
rookie like me.

I keep telling you...oil poly IS varnish. (So is water poly, just not a
very good one).

Stolen without permission from:

http://www.shesails.net/tag/varnish-vs-polyurethane/

Varnish:

Varnish is made from a combination of resin (either plant-derived or
synthetic), drying oils (most often tung or linseed), solvents
(turpentine, etc.), UV protectors, and sometimes driers.

Urethane/polyurethane is a resin. Mix it with the other stuff and you have
varnish.