I recently built a tool chest out of butternut and applied a couple coats of antique oil. At the suggestion of one of the instructors at the woodworking class where I built it, I was going to apply garnet shellac. My brother, who has been woodworking alot longer than me, questioned the application of shellac over the oil finish. Am I embarking down the wrong path?
Neil
Replies
Nope. You can use shellac over the oil finish no problem. Sometimes I'll use shellac over a finish; often, under one.
My preference is for the wax free formulations that work in either case.
noviceneil
the "antique oil" you used is likely not oil, but either a oil-based varnish, or mixture of oil and varnish. but in any case shellac sticks to everything. The problem he may be thinking of is when you put varnish over non-dewaxed shellac.
Just out of curiosity, what happens when one puts varnish over dewaxed shellac?
Neil
Edited 4/13/2007 1:44 pm ET by noviceneil
It sticks, both poly and non-poly, over dewaxed. Poly may not adhere over shellac with wax. Non-poly will adhere.Gretchen
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