I've used a melamine lacquer finish on an oak table top; unfortunately it is too glossy and shows up small sanding hollows where I had to deal with grain tear out. Also, it was not very expertly applied, which means there are some bits with more lacquer than others.
How to make it matt? I've tried fine steel wool but it doesnt seem to have any effect -- if anything it makes it shinier. Am I perhaps using too fine a grade? What about wet and dry paper (sorry, don't know the American terminology for this)?