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kchace · 04-07-2004, 09:26 PM

If you like the way it looks, there's no reason you can't use it as a finish.

Shellac is great for sealing wood in prep for other finishes, but it also can be used by itself. Just remember that you can shellac over varnish (or just about anything else) but you can't varnish(traditional varnish) over shellac. (The varnish will dissolve the shallac and cause problems) Shellac is great for sealing stains or knots so they won't bleed color through your finish coat.

Shellac makes for a great looking finish but is not as hard or durable as Lacquer or Polyurethane. Several coats of shellac (lightly sanded in between each) with a finish coat of paste wax makes for a great looking finish on furniture which will NOT be subject to water or heavy use. Alcohol will dissolve it and water will make white marks on it.

Just make sure you use "dewaxed" shellac.

Ken

04-07-2004, 09:26 PM	#2
kchace Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Brookline and Moultonborough NH Posts: 100 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	shellac If you like the way it looks, there's no reason you can't use it as a finish. Shellac is great for sealing wood in prep for other finishes, but it also can be used by itself. Just remember that you can shellac over varnish (or just about anything else) but you can't varnish(traditional varnish) over shellac. (The varnish will dissolve the shallac and cause problems) Shellac is great for sealing stains or knots so they won't bleed color through your finish coat. Shellac makes for a great looking finish but is not as hard or durable as Lacquer or Polyurethane. Several coats of shellac (lightly sanded in between each) with a finish coat of paste wax makes for a great looking finish on furniture which will NOT be subject to water or heavy use. Alcohol will dissolve it and water will make white marks on it. Just make sure you use "dewaxed" shellac. Ken