"If you do 1,2 and 3 and have a space out of the sun and wind, you might as
well do 4."

The problem is, finding a place to do it--the van won't go in my garage, and
that shade tree out front, which works well for mechanical repairs, isn't
going to be of any help at all with the paint. Add to that all my
environmentally-friendly neighbors who'd be out with torches and
pitchforks...nah...

True, this is not rocket science. There was a time, so I've heard, when part
of the test for becoming a journeyman carpenter was to finish a grand
piano--using a brush, lacquer, and lots of sandpaper. It can be done.

For the build-up method, I guess it doesn't matter whether you use a roller,
a brush, or whatever, since most of your finish quality is really in the
sanding.