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I’ve read a number of discussions about shellac, but I still have some unanswered questions.
I’m refinishing a 5 draw birdseye maple bureau. After stripping off the original (very worn) shellac finish, I’m left with a beautiful piece of furniture. I’ve rubbed on a coat of Danish oil – golden oak, followed by 2 wash coats of amber dewaxed shellac. The shellac has enhanced the piece so much so that I’m tempted to finish it solely with shellac.
So my questions are:
– How durable is it? The piece is unlikely to see any water or alcohol, so will it stand up to daily use?
– The original finish was crazed. Is this typical of all shellac finishes? How do I to avoid this from occurring?
– After wiping off the excess Danish oil, letting it dry for 10 hrs and wiping the piece down again, I applied a wash coat of shellac. Am I heading for any adhesion problems down the road?
– What ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol should I use in the final coats?
– And finally, I prefer to apply finishes with a rag. Any suggestions on proper technique with shellac and a rag.
Sorry for the many questions. Thanks and looking forward to feedback
Steve
Replies
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Shellac is a very durable finish, for anything but table tops. I gave up a long time ago on using it for tops, but I can’t think of a better finish for anything else. As you have noted it looks great, it’s also easy to apply, and has a nearly 2 century track record. Shellac works best if it is mixed up thin, like water. I never had much luck applying it with a rag, so I use expensive artist brushes. Shellac will stick to anything but wax, so you won’t have any adhesion problems. I have several shellac finished walnut tables that my grandfather made nearly 70 years ago which still look very good. This is quite a feat considering he was the worst finisher, I’ve ever known. I know of no way to avoid the natural degradation of any finish, but keeping it away from direct sun, or heat sources will help.
*Rob,Thanks for the advise. I went ahead and finished the piece with shellac. Perhaps I'll post it in the gallery some day. Using a rag does pose some problems - primarily streaking. Next time I'll try using a brush.Steve
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