Dear Peter,
I am ready to finish a chest and want to avoid the lingering odor associated with using oil finishes on the inside of a chest. I am hearing conflicting opinions on how to avoid the odor. One person recommends using shellac. Another says don’t finish the inside, because all finishes will smell. What do you recommend?
Thanks, Tom
Replies
Tom,
The age old question........ People can get very passionate over their likes and dislikes over this one.
An oil finish will discharge an odor for quite a time. It would not be my choice. I would use shellac. Once it's dry and cured, I've never been able to detect a smell. You don't need a great build up , just a thin coat or two to seal the surface.
The argument here is that it was never done on old furniture. Just leave the interior alone, enjoy the wood fragrance.
If you want to seal it, do so. I would.
Peter Gedrys
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