The more I read, the less I understand, so at the risk of kicking a dead horse…
I’m wrapping up a black walnut bookcase. I first wiped on a General Finishes stain and am happy with the color. On the interior surfaces (shelves, inside of the sides,)I’ve already pre-assembly wiped on 5 coats of super blonde in the following order:
1# cut
1#
1 1/2#
1 1/2#, and finally
1#
This is destined to go to my daughter who grew up with water/alcohol resistant finishes and sure as heck someone will eventually sit something untoward on it somewhere. Plus, I don’t think she’s ever been exposed to the concept of waxing furniture, which wouldn’t help with the alcohol issue, so that’s a different problem…
I also suspect on the shelves themselves the shellac will eventually get scuffed from pulling books etc.
Questions:
1. Can I put a wiping varnish over the dewaxed shellac? I’m seeing mixed comments on this forum and in other places and am confused.
2. Thoughts about books scuffing the shellac? (I might just varnish the top shelf since it’s most likely to be exposed).
3. if I varnish only the horizontal surfaces and simply wax over the shellac on the vertical surfaces… and teach her to wax a couple of times a year… would you anticipate a noticeable color difference in the two finishes?
4. Last if I varnish the whole piece, I’d be best served to finish the interior surfaces before glue up (runs, drips, etc.)?
5. Anything I’m missing?
Any and all comments, suggestions-specific or otherwise, negative thoughts, etc. welcome.
Replies
I my opinion, polyurethane is hard to beat for availability, durability, and ease of application. I would not overthink it. Just go to your local paint store or home center and get what ever poly they sell and apply it according to directions; either water based or oil based. If you want to wipe it on rather than brush it, just thin it or buy it already thinned. And, yes, you can apply it over de-waxed shellac. I have had very good results with Varathane sold by Home Depot. Again, don't over think it. Just do the whole thing. Then you can rest easy that it is well protected.
I agree. You can't really beat a wipe-on poly, either store bought or make it yourself. I usually use a one-to-one ratio of oil based, non-wipe poly and mineral spirits. 3-4 coats will do.
I put water based poly over dewaxed shellac all the time. They go great together. I like the water based because it adds zero additional color. Oil based is going the change the color of the shellac.
Except for wax, dewaxed shellac can be used under or over pretty much anything.
If you are putting a poly finish on it why bother with the shellac in the first place? What advantage does the shellac give you? Put on the poly and be done.
Shellac seems to be the most misused finishing material these days. Use shellac or don't. Just dont use both at the same time.
Agree, especially since you're staining as well.
Yep. 100% Agree.
"Shellac seems to be the most misused finishing material these days. Use shellac or don't. Just dont use both at the same time".
While I understand what you are saying, I can't totally agree. There are times when it is good, if not necessary, to use shellac under poly or other finishes such as using shellac as a barrier coat over unknown or incompatible existing finishes. Also, I recently dyed a piece using water based dye. I then used a coat of de-waxed shellac to keep the dye from streaking before applying a water based poly. There are also other reasons.
As Bilyo said, there can be lots of good reasons for putting a more durable finish over shellac, and there are also some excellent reasons for putting shellac under other finishes. It's not a misuse at all.
1. Yes you can varnish over shellac. The beauty of shellac is the you can use it under or over almost anything.
2. For best uniformity, I'd just varnish the whole thing. The more you can pre-finish before assembly the better.
3. If you can keep her from putting drinks on it, you're probably good with just the shellac. The benefit to this approach is that you can always add another coat of shellac without having to pre-sand the piece.
Thanks to all for the inputs so far. My original plan was to simply use shellac with a rubbed wax finish. My personal preference for walnut frankly is to not put a “hard shell” finish over the wood. That’s just me. I used the term wiping varnish but if I go that route, I don’t believe I’ll be using poly on this piece. If it was a table top, certainly. I had in mind a tung oil - varnish blend of my own or a purchased product.
I don’t expect the toughness of poly here in this instance for (my perceived) appearance purposes. I didn’t make my intentions very clear, my bad. Just looking for something to protect from an errant cocktail... and concerned about scuffing from moving books on and off. Sorry to have misled.
One joy of shellac is ease of repair. One drawback is that it’s not bulletproof.
I appreciate the confirmation that I can varnish/oil over the shellac. Super helpful.
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I don't know if anything enhances walnut like shellac.
I use it a lot b/c its a great sealer coat, plus various shades can be used & avoid issues associated with dying/staining on certain wood.
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