How to apply shellac to wood furniture. Keep the surface really wet with the shellac and apply the finish from dry to wet edges. It can be tinted and its easy to repair if damaged. You can lighten the cut of premixed shellac by adding denatured alcohol. Subscribe for weekly woodworking projects.
When you apply shellac. If the shellac goes on too stickily for smooth strokes try adding a drop or two of mineral oil as a lubricant. Apply the shellac to the wood. Of all the many wood finishes available woodworkers love shellac for its many benefits.
Shellac is a food grade finish that is commonly used for things like coating pills or even candy. Depending on the wood type i apply a further finish of paste wax. Premade shellac options pros and cons. For larger projects depending on space you can either apply shellac before you put the project together or once it is fully constructed.
Use an almost dry brush for this step. To apply shellac flow it liberally onto the surface working in long smooth strokes along the grain of the wood. Shellac should be applied in long smooth strokes following the grain of the wood to ensure an even application. The finish is non toxic.
On open grained woods like oak. It can be used as a sealer before applying a stain. Easy to apply and hard to screw up. Why i switched and will never go back.
Use steel wool 0000 after your last coat has dried this buffs out any imperfections in the finish. Mineral oil won. I use national trust furniture polish for a clear wax finish or briwax for a coloured wax finish. For a non toxic wood finish with what i consider middle of the road benefits between ease beauty and protection shellac is a great choice for fine furniture many small crafts and childrens toys.
Premixed shellac lasts about 3 years on the shelf. Because shellac also dries quickly when applied to wood it takes some practice to learn how to properly apply the finish. Check the dates on the cans photo f or test the solution to make sure its fresh photo g. For the final step dip the steel wool into the furniture wax and apply to your project.
Shellac dries very quickly so it is important to work quickly and efficiently. If you miss a spot when applying the shellac avoid going back to touch it up.