Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Varnishing wood

Hi,
I have a beautiful wooden daybed which has a lot of scratches on it put on while shifting apartments. Can some tell me if I can varnish it myself or should i go to a proffesional. Can somebody point me to how to varnish and what tools I need.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

If the finish is mechanically sound, clean it thoroughly with mineral spirits to remove grease, grit, grime, and wax. Scrub it down with a green scotchbrite pad to knock down some of the sheen. Apply a top quality varnish with a top quality brush. Varnish is applied in thin coats by laying it on and tipping it off. Don't overbrush varnish, don't brush back over it. Sand 240 grit between coats to remove nibs and runs. Wait at least 12 hours for each coat to dry enough to sand. Wait 24 hours after the last coat before pressing the piece into service.

Hope this helps.

thanks chris