Is minwax’s pre-stain wood condition the same as a 1lb cut shellac?
I have stained a set of shelves and now want to seal the colour before applying a top coat of a wipe on Oil-Varnish blend. I have read that a 1lb cut shellac is a good initial sealer before applying the protecive varnish or oil finish coat. Should I use the Wood conditioner as though it were a cut shellac so that I dont ruin the stains colour or am I being paranoid?
I used the wood conditioner to seal the pine before I stained and am happy with the results. I dont want to wash off or rub out any of the colour. I don’t have any shellac but do have most of a 1 litre can of Conditioner.
Cheers,
“Almost Finished…”
Replies
The wood conditioner does not seal the wood, but allows more uniform absorption of the stain on especially soft woods. It is not a shellac product. First, read the contents on your pre-stain conditioner. It will probably say mineral spirits somewhere and will smell like mineral spirits. A 1lb. cut of shellac should smell like alcohol. My take on those that I have used is that they are mostly mineral spirits and my recollection of the one's that I have used have directions that say to apply the stain within 5-15 minutes or recoat.
Another point on top coating oil stains - let them dry really well - like 24 hours or you will be dissolvng stain with the top coat. You then have to be really careful not to get visible streaking in the stain coloration. I have found it necessary to wipe off the stain coat well, then allow 24 hours and add a fan to move the air around. This I am sure changes with temperature and humidity.
Jerry
First, if you used Minwax Wood Finish oil based stain, there is no need for a "sealer" coat. Any finish can be applied over it directily as long as the stain is fully dry.
Second, an oil/varnish mixture finish should be applied to bare wood. It is intended to be absorbed into the wood, not sit on top of it. An oil based stain contains a small amount of varnish and the varnish will, at least partially, seal the pores of the wood affecting the ability of the oil varnish to be absorbed. Applying a coat of shellac will completely seal the pores and none of the oil/varnish will be absorbed. When you wipe off the excess oil/varnish, you will wipe off all the finish.
At this point, apply your oil/varnish using a pad of 4/0 steel wool. Rub in the direction of the grain and rub very lightly. Let it set for 15-20 minutes and then wipe dry. Let it dry overnight and do it once more. That should do it.
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