Reply by gfadvm

Paul, I’ve had the best luck with Deft brand rattle can lacquer (Lowes has it). I use semi-gloss mostly. I am not familiar with basswood so test on scrap to see if it wants to raise the grain as your carving may be tough to sand? Use VERY light coats (not wet). I bought one of those handles for spray cans and it helped A LOT.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm