Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 19, 2008 08:30pm | #1

   Yes, but why?

   Howie.........
1. 
   simchart | Apr 19, 2008 09:17pm | #2

   Well, it takes so many coats of shellac to build a good finish, that I thought I could save some time.  I have the color that I wanted to acheive with the shellac, and now it's just a matter of the sheen.

1. 
   Rich14 | Apr 19, 2008 10:39pm | #4

   "Well, it takes so many coats of shellac to build a good finish, that I thought I could save some time. I have the color that I wanted to acheive (sic) with the shellac, and now it's just a matter of the sheen."Good God, man. Have you lost your mind!Put DOWN that can of polyurethane, sir, and back away from the wood! We don't want to have to hurt you.Sim,You've already put on several coats of shellac and you're willing to cheapen it with a top coat of WHAT!?Please, just gently level sand the existing shellac with 320 grit and apply a final coat of . . . wait for it . . . wait for it . . . SHELLAC!It'll be NICE!Rich

   Edited 4/19/2008 3:41 pm ET by Rich14

2. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 20, 2008 11:50pm | #5

   The best shellac finishes are very thin. Shellac is not a finish that is normally "built". In fact, too much thickness of shellac can lead to early cracking and crazing.You also realize that applying a couple of coats of polyurethane now is going to change the color you have achieved with the shellac, don't you? Polyurethane is very yellow/amber due to the linseed oil. In addition, the finish will get more yellow with time.I don't know what sheen you are looking for but, shellac can be easily rubbed from gloss to semi-gloss to satin.Howie.........

   Edited 4/20/2008 4:52 pm ET by HowardAcheson

3. 
   sleepydad | Apr 21, 2008 02:37am | #7

   I for one absolutely hate the sheen of shellac.

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   Just do some light sanding and put your poly over that ugly glossy shellac and get the sheen you want.

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   I do it all the time it works just fine and it will not cheapen or degrade that shellac.

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   In the future you only need one coat of shellac.  Then you can poly over it.

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   Don’t listen to these yoyo’s.  hand sanding and paste wax will not give you the same appearance as poly over shellac.  wax will give a duller shellac but IMHO it’s not the same as poly.

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1. 
   Rich14 | Apr 21, 2008 03:14am | #8

   sleepydad,You apparently have no understanding of shellac and how it needs to be finished.I agree about the glossy appearance of an unmodified shellac film - shellac that has simply been applied and allowed to harden. Only those ignorant of the qualities of shellac leave it like that. In fact that was THE hallmark of cheap furniture before the advent of modern lacquers. "Slap in on, let it dry and get it out the door." Ugh.To get rid of that hard, garish, ugly look, I even level sand the shellac I use to seal my wooden shop jigs.Shellac (and it's modern replacement - lacquer) can, and should be gently leveled, then rubbed out to the desired degree. It can be finished to have the softest satin glow, or to the clearest, even, mirror glass-like covering, or anything in between. Nothing, repeat, nothing rivals it for bringing out the beauty in the underlying wood. Yours,Rich, one of the yoyos

1. 
   sleepydad | Apr 21, 2008 04:27am | #9

   I use shellac all the time and I understand it plenty.  <!----><!----><!---->

   We are talking about 5 coats here?  Probably zinser? 2# cut?  Cheep luna homedepo doors? interior?  now I'm not saying you shouldn’t strive for perfection in all pursuits but we are talking $30-$40 home depo doors?  Not exactly fine furniture.  It is a lot of work to buff shellac out to the desired sheen.<!----><!---->

   If he were to use a water based poly there would virtually no color change and it could be done with an extremely thin film and easily get his desired low gloss.

   I have seen plenty of professionally finished pieces of furniture and it is a real skill to make leveled and rubbed out finishes that don’t look cloudy.  I’m guessing by the question its ok to put poly over the 5 coats of shellac.

   I’m interest to hear what he did?  Did you put poly over the shellac?

2. 
   saschafer | Apr 19, 2008 09:25pm | #3

   As long as the shellac is dewaxed, yes. Polyurethane will not adhere to shellac that hasn't been dewaxed.

   -Steve

    

3. 
   danmart | Apr 21, 2008 02:12am | #6

   Melvin

   Are the doors going to be hung inside or outside?? Assuming they will go inside, it doesn't make much sense at this point to apply a varnish. Like others said, rub it out a bit and apply a couple thin coats and the doors should look nice.

   dan