I have a quilted maple table top that I want to finish with “blonde” shellac. All I could find at the local big box was Zinsser “Clear” Shellac. Is this blonde shellac? <!—-><!—-> <!—->
I read an article at FWW saying clear shellac is not as hard as other varieties. Would clear shellac stand up to use on a 22″ diameter occasional table? The table will have a picture frame and a bud vase on it, no heavy use and no coffee/alcohol/Pepsi.<!—-><!—->
I’m just getting into shellac as a finish. I plan to oil the wood with boiled Linseed oil first. Then pad on the shellac and rub it out, trying to achieve a “glass-like” finish. Is it possible/desirable to brush on the shellac? Should I be looking at 3 coats, (2 lb cut), 6 coats or a half a bazillion? Any advice will be considered. It seems that many articles about finishing with shellac are contradictory. <!—-> <!—->
This will be my biggest, most visible, project yet so I want it to be perfect…<!—-><!—->
Replies
northouguy,
Yes clear and blonde are the same thing.. However I wouldn't use anything except shellac.
Shellac is a hard and tough finish and used for centuries.. If you doubt me go look in the archieves under 34866.5 you'll see my floor done with 3 thin coats of shellac holding up to walking on it with street shoes, my 150 pound dog actually denting the wood with his claws but the finish is still perfect..
Clear is not the same as blonde. Blonde is a variant of orange shellac with much of the natural shellac dye removed mechanically, by filtering with activated carbon. But Zinsser Clear is bleached chemically bleached dissolved in caustic solution (sodium carbonate) and bleached with sodium hypochlorite. The bleached shellac is precipidated into a powdered form and quickly dissolved in alcohol, because the bleached powder has an extremely short shelf life. The liquid bleached shellac generally is thought to be less water resistant and a bit softer.
With care it would probably hold up OK, but if I would still have a strong preference for dewaxed blonde (super blonde or ultra blonde) which will be quite light colored, be more water resistant, and also be compatible with any subsequent top coat if the needs change and overcoating is desired. Zinsser Clear still does contain wax, and therefore should not be used under polyurethane varnish or waterborne finishes.
The BLO is quite amber, which is what makes it "pop" the figure on maple. This makes makes using Clear shellac of no particular value--all the more reason to prefer the blonde shellac.
Edited 5/26/2007 9:38 pm ET by SteveSchoene
Steve is right about the manufacturing process for "clear," and I, too have heard that it is less durable. However, I have a fairly high traffic residential oak floor here in my house that was done with Zinsser clear and has held up with good gloss and no undue wear for about a year and a half.
Joe
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