Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Nov 12, 2005 03:06pm | #1

   Don't know the answer.  I'd be surprised if shellac wasn't used quite a bit.  Shellac doesn't like standing liquid water very well, but it is a superior product with respect to water vapor. 

2. 
   notDusty | Nov 12, 2005 06:37pm | #2

     Hi jimbell ,

                             The originals were sometimes stained to a dark color and top coated most likely with a Varnish or possibly a type of Shellac product . I have been lucky enough to do many jobs in new and original Craftsmen houses , in the newer ones that were done the nicest , the painter brushed conversion Varnish on and left the vg Fir and Redwood clear . After the brush finish I was surprised how beautiful a finish could be obtained without a spray rig .

                        good   luck                    dusty

1. 
   jimbell | Nov 12, 2005 09:44pm | #3

   Thanks. I'll try dewaxed dark garnet shellac with a top coat of brushing varnish. Please let me know if you do not think this will work.

   Cheers,

    

2. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 13, 2005 03:08am | #4

   My own house is a turn of the century, and fir was used for the case work / wainscoting on the 3rd floor.25 years ago, I could buy a "varnish stain" (from Ben Moore, I'm pretty sure), but it is no longer available. From my own renovation experience on my house and others, I'm guessing this was the product they often used. It clearly was not shellac (not soluble in alcohol) nor lacquer (not soluble in lac thinner), but mine flicked right off with a scraper, and was not stained prior to finishing. You can certainly mix some stain with varnish yourself, but it is difficult to keep the stain in suspension as you are brushing it. So I quit trying to mess with that, and have instead used a gel stain (Woodkote), top coated with varnish. I have used polyurethane, but find that I prefer the slightly less plastic looking, old fashion alkyd varnish -- which is harder to come by, but still available in most paint stores.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-