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Are you refinishing every winter? If you are then you shouldn't have to strip off the old varnish every time. I would just give it a light sand and another coat or two every winter which is a lot less of a pain than stripping it all off and starting all over. As far as your process goes i do everything just about the same way. I apply the last coat of varnish with a foam brush because i think it comes out looking better. Good Luck