Fast Shellac Finish
How to build an attractive finish in three easy steps.
Synopsis: If you’ve shied away from shellac because you once tried to brush it straight from the can, or if you’ve been put off by the thought of a French polish, it’s time to give this versatile, fast-drying finish a second look. The keys to success are excellent surface preparation and using thinned shellac so it goes on easily. Using this technique, you’ll get a nice satin finish that’s friendly to the touch in about a half hour.
Shellac is a finish that a lot of woodworkers shy away from. If you’ve ever tried to brush it on straight from the can, you probably didn’t like it very much. And if you’ve read an article on the fine art of French polishing, you’re forgiven if you were left feeling a little intimidated.
The truth is that shellac is a great fast-drying…
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Comments
Mike, more a question than a comment. In this article you advise: "Shellac dries fast, so you can finish parts without
slowing down assembly. This means you can prefinish components like these dividers that would
be hard to reach after glue-up." I agree with the advantage of access to the parts pre-assembly, but wonder, do I need to avoid pre-finishing any surfaces which will be part of a glued joint in final assembly?
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