Shellac

Ben and Mike Mascelli talk finishing and upholstery, then Amanda chats with Mike about his thoughts on our "fine woodworking" question from the last episode.

Finishing is kind of like playing ball in the house. Can you fix it when you throw too hard?

This recipe creates an aged look for new mahogany.

Why you can't go wrong with shellac or milk paint as your box finish.

Mike demonstrates one of his favorite finishing methods, which allows him to fully finish the cabinet in one sitting.

Before gluing up the hanging wall cabinet case with only two clamps, Mike prefinishes the case parts with his simple wipe-on shellac method.

Tables give guidelines when you're mixing shellac in small portions

The initial step in French polishing, called the first polish, is filling the open pores of the wood with shellac, pumice, and good old fashioned elbow grease.

Finishing expert and woodworker John Coffey gives an introduction to shellac, discussing the different types, how to mix it, and how to apply it to create a long-lasting, beautiful French polish finish.

Drain cleaner, roofing tar, and shellac team up for a foolproof finish.