Garnet shellac on walnut. Orange shellacs amber tone complements any wood with natural reds and warms blonde woods like old varnish. If you use it as the entire shellac finish you can get fairly dark tones on light woods and deep browns on darker woods like walnut. Shellac and how to mix it for use as a finish and a stock solution. Here are the tools and tips needed to get a great shellac finish on any of your furniture or woodworking projects.
I have read of various options for enhancing the color of steamed walnut. I sealed the grain with 1lb cut blond shellac and then applied a coat of 1lb cut garnet shellac. Shellac flakes are disso. Food safe wood finish with shellac bees wax walnut oil.
Garnet shellac is a deep rubyorange color great for an antique look on cherry mahogany and walnut. If you have to build beyond several coats with dark varieties of shellac. Dewaxed dark garnet shellac. Shellac flakes will degrade such that they will no longer dissolve in alcohol.
Shellac is a perishable product and despite common misconceptions shellac flakes do not last forever. Homemade garnet shellac a few of drops of medium walnut and a drop of bordeaux added to clear shellac left will produce a color similar to that of garnet shellac right. There was a lot of agreement about using garnet shellac on walnut because of its color enhancement and similarity to finishes on antique pieces. On this dulcimer i decided to try garnet shellac.
Mix your shellac with solvent alcohol stir frequently until dissolved. Question i am building a cabinet for a customer out of solid walnut and he told me he wanted an amber shellac topped off with danish oil. Dyes can do it all. Colored shellac can give a real depth and warmth to wood.
Another advantage of mixing your own is you can decide how diluted to make it. This instructable will take you through the steps of making and applying a true shellac finish from flakes not the stuff in the spray can or jar that youll find at the hardware store although the same steps may apply. In excellent storage conditions shellac flakes can last many years storage conditions from 40f to 50f at 40 rh are suggested. I especially like garnet on walnut it brings out the richness of the wood.
Tung oil and shellac on walnut tips on using this old style combination with a few concessions to modern conditions. The mix is identified by the ratio of alcohol to shellac called cuts.