I refinished some MCM chairs last summer with Mohawk nitrocellulose lacquer and I was very surprised that the smell was completely gone within 24 hours.  A local hardware store carries pretty much the entire line of Mohawk finishes either by the gallon or in rattle cans.  Great stuff.  
 
    
     --Nathan, TX.  Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.