What is Shellac Good For?
The most often thought of use is to put a protective coating on wood. This can be done by brush, rag, or spray. Brushes are most often used. The applied coat of shellac dries to the touch in 15 to 25 minutes. This reduces the amount of time for dust to settle. It is sandable in around one hour. Several coats can be applied in one session. It is frequently recommended that the first coat be thinned to a 2 pound cut to achieve better penetration into bare wood. Subsequent coats melt the previous coat allowing a very tough film to build. The look of this amber (orange) shellac adds a slight warming tone to the wood while still letting the natural look of the wood show through. The finish is nearly a gloss but can be easily changed to satin or even flat with a light rubbing with pumice and wax over the last, dried, coat. Light sanding between coats is recommended for the smoothest finish. Another technique, using shellac with a drying oil, is called “French Polishing”. This is considered o
