I am aware that oils and varnishes used on the interior of cabinets and cases can emit odors for a long time – experienced it on one cabinet I made years ago. Will General Finishing Gel Stains, which contains urethane, emit this same type of odor? Is de-waxed shellac the only way to go (save lacquer)? Is it a question of evaporative finish (shellac) vs. a reactive (urethane)? Reactive needs air and an enclosed cabinet just doesn’t have enough… Thanks all
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Replies
Shellac the insides and there will be no need to ever worry.
I'll second furniture_maker's comment. Shellac on the inside - I've done both, It takes forever to get rid of the paint odor even using charcoal or coffee grounds to absorb it.
I'm not sure of your question but, an oil based gel stain like the GF stain will cause long term odors if left un-coated. I would recommend coating with shellac. It will seal in the odor and provide a fine finish for the interior of a cabinet. Just be sure you coat all the surfaces, nooks and crannies. Waxed or dewaxed shellac is not an issue for overcoating a polyurethane. Either will adhere just fine. Waxed shellac is only an issue for finishes being applied over it.
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