Tassie oak bedside table

[snowyskiesau]

I picked up a bedside table from the tip shop a while back. After a cleanup, it seems to be tassie oak.
I thought I'd finish it with a Sam Maloof mix as mentioned on these forums several times. Also had a butchers block trolly needing some TLC so it got a few coats as well.
One thing I've noticed on the bedside table is that a few minutes after I've wiped it off, there are small beads of the mixture forming on the top. I've wiped it off several times but it keeps coming back. Any suggestions?

Sorry for the photo quality, I broke my new Samsung phone

EDIT: After a couple of wipe downs, the little beads no longer return.

[snowyskiesau]

How much gloss should I expect from this finish seeing I'm using a semi gloss polyurethane? After 4 coats, the finish is very smooth but quite matt.
The colour is a bit of a surprise too, it's a lot darker than I expected. I like it though.

[Wongo]

It should look reasonably shinny after 4 coats.

[snowyskiesau]

OK, coat number 5 coming up (or possibly 4, I was coating another item at the same time and may have lost count), weather permitting, it's a bit cool here right now.

[snowyskiesau]

Finished off with a beeswax polish and I'm quite happy with the result, seeing it's the first proper finish I've applied.

I took one of the drawers along to the shed night on Monday and I was told it's actually blackwood, not, as I thought, tassie oak.
Not a bad score for $5.