How to Perfect a Shellac Finish

Shellac finishes have been used on furniture for centuries. Today, these finishes can be applied easily with a brush or a pad at a nominal cost. Whichever method of application you choose, following these steps will help you perfect a shellac finish.

Things You'll Need

• Wood project furniture
• Shellac
• Fine or natural bristle brush
• Alcohol
• Ammonia
• Warm, soapy water
• Sandpaper
• Soft cloth
• Cotton muslin
• Squeeze bottle
• Drop cloth
• Newspaper
• Steel wool
• Paste wax

Instructions

Prepare to Shellac

1. Choose a well ventilated work spot and protect the surrounding area with a drop cloth or newspaper before applying shellac.

2. Select either brushing or padding to apply your shellac finish and assemble all your equipment so when you start your project, you will have it handy.

3. Sand your wood piece to prep it for the shellac.Use a soft cloth wipe down and remove any residue. Make sure your piece is dust free before you shellac.

Brush on Shellac

1. Use a fine or natural bristle brush that will retain a great deal of shellac.

2. Start several inches from the edge and move your brush to the edge then back across the wood to the opposite side. Be sure to keep the finish even.

3. Apply in small sections, overlapping each section as you go. Be careful not to over brush your piece.

4. Permit the first coat of shellac to dry for one hour. Sand the wood and wipe clean in between coats. Additional coats must be allowed to dry overnight.

5. Perfect your shellac finish by sanding the wood and then use steel wool and paste wax to buff out the finish.

6. Brush on three coats for woods like cherry and maple. Woods such as mahogany will require five coats.

7. Soak brushes in alcohol or ammonia to remove the shellac. Once the brushes are shellac-free, clean them with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly to keep soft bristles.

Apply Shellac with a Pad

1. Make a flat pad several layers thick of folded cotton muslin or any other lint-free fabric.

2. Work about one ounce of alcohol into the pad prior to applying the shellac. Fill a squeeze bottle with shellac and dispense a few drops onto the cloth.

3. Keep the pad from making direct contact with the wood. Instead, it should gently "touch down" on the piece before slowly being "lifted off." Continue with this motion in a striped pattern down the wood. Add more shellac to your pad as needed.

4. Repeat this procedure until your cloth begins to bond to the wood.

5. Permit the first coat of shellac to dry for one hour. Sand the wood and wipe clean in between coats. Additional coats must dry overnight. When applying shellac with a pad, three coats are recommended.

6. Soak brushes in alcohol or ammonia to remove the shellac. Once the brushes are shellac-free, clean them with warm, soapy water. This ensures the bristles will remain soft.

Tips & Warnings

• You can mix shellac with any color.

• Practice your shellac finish and application technique(s) before applying it to your piece.

• You can use shellac as a sealer prior to staining.

• Cover your brush with alcohol up to the metal part and then squeeze it out prior to using. This makes clean up easier.

• If you use the padding technique, keep your pad moist, but not saturated, and lay down light coats.

• Shellac does not withstand heat or water well.

• Shellac is quick drying.