Yes you can control how dark it gets by buffing lightly with 0000 steel wool. I think that was 3 coats? You wash it between every coat so it "sticks" better. Lightly oil or wax for more protection once you get the color you want. It does rub off over time, but thats whats awesome. It wears off naturally in all the heavy traffic areas that get handled the most while the rest stays put and looks naturally aged.