Oil first then shellac or put the oil in the shellac?
James Condino in his video on creating a starburst pattern mixes oil and shellac on the pad then rubs in, however, in his article “Dyes bring out best In figured maple” he oils first then shellacs. Jeff Jewett also does the oil first then the shellac. Anyone have any experience with pros and cons of the two approaches, or does it make any difference?
Lance
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Is it possible that the DVD is talking about French polishing and adding a drop or two of mineral oil to the applicator pad? I've not heard of mixing boiled linseed oil and shellac. My expectation is that a mix of boiled linseed oil and shellac would make a mess, but I haven't tried it.
French polishing works to achieve an extremely flat, and therefore high gloss, shellac finish. A bit of mineral oil is used only as a lubricant while polishing the layer of shellac.
A thin coat of boiled linseed oil I think brings out much of the warmth and character of wood. After it has dried for 48 hours I sometimes apply a shellac finish to further enhance the character of the wood. Some people like the look of two or three coats of boiled linseed oil (blo) without a further topcoat. And some like a shellac finish without first applying blo.
Is there a particular look that is desired?
The oil then shellac pattern makes sense. Oil with shellac is almost certainly just the French polish method of applying shellac. (The oil is removed in the end, either spirited off, or removed with a wipe down of naphtha.) French polishinsg gives a very wonderful finish, but it is full process, not a simple matter of mixing oil and shellac.
Boiled linseed oil and shellac
I have tried this a few times and it works for me. I apply a generous quantity of boiled linseed oil to the surface of the wood. Allow it to dry out a little, but not completely. I take a little of powder fillers, calcium carbonate, or china clay into a pad and start rubbing it into the wood. I keep repeating this process till the wood will not absorb any more of the filler. Then rub the wood with a cloth pad. The wood has already taken a nice glow on it's own and has become very smooth. Now apply a top coat that one wishes to . The finish comes out very good. The best finish that I liked is the shellac finish, especially if one uses de waxed shellac.
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