Just put a coat of poly on both of the maple tops and it's gong well. I watched a bunch of YouTube videos for hints on brushing poly on wood and the most helpful was one that simply said to cut the Minwax poly with mineral spirits (3 to 1 Minwax to mineral spirits). Wow, what a difference it made. Using their product full strength consistently gave me lines in the dried finish, like little washboards. Thinning smoothed them right out and speeds drying time too.
I think I'm getting close to the process I can work with!