Replies

1. 
   Senomozi | Nov 12, 2007 08:44pm | #1

   Hello Joe,

   Every coat will darken the wood.  This is called "Toning".  You need to stop when you reach the right colour.  It is a good idea to use non tinted finish on top of the toned finish so that the latter is protected against scratches.  I.e. use super blonde shellac on top of your tinted shellac.

   Regards,

   Senomozi

1. 
   joepez | Nov 12, 2007 09:41pm | #2

   Whew,

   thank goodness something told me to stop. thanks for the info. i've already spent more time than i thought trying to get the right color.

   thanks again. i will follow your advise.

   joe p in RI

    

2. 
   frenchy | Nov 13, 2007 01:20pm | #3

   joepez,

    I'd stop a little lighter than your target even blond shellac adds a little color to the finish..

    Trail and error is my only way of doing this.. maybe some know formulas but I sure don't.

3. 
   KeithNewton | Nov 13, 2007 01:42pm | #4

   I would not think of using a finish as soft as shellac for stair treads, it is not very tough.

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 13, 2007 02:19pm | #5

   KeithNewton,

    You're wrong. I'm sorry but shellac is harder than most floor finishes.  I've done my floor in shellac and even my 150 pound dog who refuses to trim his toenails can't hurt it.. If you'd like to see it go to 43866.1

     Shellac is probably the oldest and best finish for floors out there..  In addition to it's hardness it's insanely easy to repair if something should happen it it..

     Assume that a spot get's damaged, all you do is wipe denatured alcohol on the area and it strips the floor in the damaged spot.. then you apply the three coats of shellac back over and since each coat melts into the previous coat it makes a perfectly seemless repair. Doesn't matter if it's been a day a week or a century!

    Have a simple scratch?  take a rag dampened in denatured alcohol and rub briskly for a few moments.  If children are present say abra-Cadbra-alakzam  <GRIN> scratch be-gone.. It's so easy you'll be tempted to show it to all your house guests..

    In another post over at breaktime someone wanted to know how to remove a shellac floor finish  that was over 100 years old.. Sanding just gummed up the sand paper.. Soak with denatured alcohol and wipe it up! No sanding required!

     Shellac is the easiest finish to apply too!

    Even complete painting dunces like me with no patience can do about 500 sq.ft in a couple of hours and have dinner in an oderless room that night.

    Shellac is safe,, you've been eating shellac all of your life.. pills and a lot of candy is coated with it..

    It's safe, durable,  cheap, easy, and darn near idiot proof.. what's not to like? 

    OH, the reason shellac has a reputation of being delicate is because it's used on the finest antiques and yes some of them are a bit delicate but not shellac is not!

     Shellac does give wood a depth and richness that no other floor finish approaches. Shiny without the gloss of polurethanes.  Depth without looking plastic.

    

   Edited 11/13/2007 6:23 am ET by frenchy

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Nov 13, 2007 03:06pm | #6

   Yes, shellac is harder than polyurethane floor finishes, but it is just not tougher.  Polyurethane clearly resists the abrasion from foot traffic better than shellac, that's widely understood.  It is the "softness" that allows abrasive bits to deform the poly as it slips past without creating a visible scratch. 

   I like shellac quite a lot, and use it regularly on my furniture projects.  It's more water resistant than many think, and even an adult beverage spilled on it isn't a disaster unless it is allowed to set for hours.  Ammonia in cleaners can be a big problem, though as you point out repairing shellac is pretty easy.  For furniture shellac is hard to beat, but for floors, polyurethane comes into it's own. That's what it's made for. 

1. 
   frenchy | Nov 13, 2007 07:36pm | #7

   Steve,

    I'm sorry to disagree with you but Feel I must.  Shellac is perfect for floors.   No it doesn't have the marketing that polyurethanes do and thus it has lost favor with floor refinishers but if you'd try it yourself I think you would be convinced..

    My floors are regularly walked on in street shoes and work boots and it is holding up extremely well. Dusty, dirty, but the shellac it'self is great (once I dust it which isn't all that often because I'm still doing a lot of work on my house).

    I keep mentioning my 150 pound dog because he's far harder on the floor than I could ever be..   I expected to have to do several repairs by now because when he puts on the brakes and jumps up and down he actaully dents the wood, but the shellac remains scratch free.

     The ease of application and the quick way it dries makes it perfect for the do-it-yourselfer. 

     You mention the advantage of softness that polyurethanes have, how it can conform to small scratches.  You failed to mention the plastic look which all polyurethanes have except satins.. Since the satin polyurethanes are even softer than gloss polyurethanes their life is even shorter..

    In addition satin prevents the full beauty of the wood from coming thru, just like you wouldn't look at the Mona Lisa thru  a frosted glass you don't see the beauty of wood thru satins..

   In addition when it comes time to renew polyurethanes sanding is required.. Sanding means some of the life of the floor goes away in the bags of sawdust hauled out.. whereas with Shellac,  unless there is a problem with the underlying wood sanding is not required..

    I could discuss drying times and the time from start to putting the furniture back in  place but I'm sure you are already aware of that since you have so much experiance.. In fact all the rest of shellacs wonderful features we already agree on.. I just wish you'd try it yourself on one of your floors..  

      

1. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 14, 2007 03:10am | #8

   Loved the post.Schellac is like a young child.. Tough as nails and recovers easily!

2. 
   jimmy | Nov 14, 2007 04:40am | #9

   Frenchy, I agree...redid my floors in shellac and my blue tick and border collie have'nt killed it yet...or my insane 18 and 19 year old kids come to think of it...Been in this trade for years and never have liked the polys very much.  Oil or water.  Jimmy