Shellac Pre-finish – Single Board Side Table (Michael Pekovich)
jerincreek
| Posted in Finishing on
Watching the Michel Pekovich instrutional videos for the Single Board Side Table. On Episode #6 at about 3 minutes in, Michael talks about using shellac as a pre-finish. But he states that he applies the shellac ONLY to the outside and bottom of the aprons. Why wouldn’t he apply shellac to the balance of the bare wood on the aprons?
Is there a reason not to do this?
Replies
The reason he uses a Shellac washcoat is to seal the wood to reduce the number of coats of the Waterlox it will take to get a good build. I don't know any reason why he wouldn't washcoat the entire piece inside and out, as I would. Shellac is the best water vapor barrier of any finish.
If you are going to use an oil varnish I agree with him regarding Waterlox, I think it is the best of the lot and I have used the same system he describes. It will yield excellent results, it is also a very durable finish.
However for cherry I recommend a different route. I start by rubbing in a light coat of waterlox, just enough on the rag with lots of elbow grease to put an even coat on the wood. This brings out the color of the cherry and pops the grain on figured pieces. I then finish with a two lb cut of dewaxed orange shellac. I typically brush on a couple of coats for a quick build and then switch to padding on to keep everything flat and smooth. I requires a bit more skill or practice than an oil varnish but is well worth the effort, there is nothing like the feel and look of a shellac finish, IMHO.
Single Board Side Table
Thank you for taking the time to give me such a thorough response. Much appreciated!
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