I like shellac. It is a durable and versatile finish. It can be sprayed, brushed, or wiped on and used as a topcoat, sealer, or barrier between disparate finishes. If you’ve never tried shellac, consider getting a small sample kit, now available from Ron Hock, known for his plane blades.

A Hock shellac kit consists of enough shellac flakes and denatured alcohol to mix up a 9.5-oz. batch, just enough finish for a small project. A brochure includes a bit of shellac history and directions for applying the product (brush, pad, or spray). Hock sells both blond (light-colored) and orange (darker) shellac.

Why buy unmixed when you can purchase ready-mixed at the home center? Premixed shellac is usually available only in orange and has a short useful life span. Shellac loses its water resistance and drying ability over time. Mixing fresh shellac from flakes guarantees good performance of the product.

The kit is a somewhat expensive way to buy shellac, but it offers a convenient, informative, and well-packaged introduction to using the finish. The product is available from Woodcraft (800-225-1153) or from Hock (888-282-5233).

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Compass

An essential tool for drawing circles and curves accurately. Also good for layout.

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Veritas Micro-Adjust Wheel Marking Gauge

The adjuster runs through the beam from a small knob at the back end right to the cutting wheel, which moves in and out as you turn the knob. This arrangement works well but makes adjustments a two-handed operation, requiring a little more effort.

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Sawstop Miter Gauge

It has a toothed angle-setting rack that is extremely solid, accurate, and easy to use, and it offers all of the features I love in a miter gauge, including the ability to add an auxiliary wood fence, and a flip-stop that will accommodate it.

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