Finishing with Shellac

Posted 24 March 2014

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Ever wondered how to best apply a shellac finish? In this video, Paul goes step by step through each process he uses to get great results. In this project he applies the finish to the tool chest which he made on Woodworking Masterclasses.

88 Comments

    2. No, I wanted something people can use straight off and used a Liberon product of sanding sealer that I like. The solvent (denatured alcohol) evaporates quite quickly in use and you end up with a thicker solution even as you apply the finish.

  8. I realize there are different types of Shellac in regards to a tint or color, some with wax, some without wax, but is all Shellac a “sanding sealer?” Or is there different types of Shellac (in that regard)?

    And regarding the wax … are there different types of wax for different purposes when using it on wood?

    2. The higher the lb. cut the thicker and harder the coat. There really is no reason to go beyond a 2 lb. cut in most woodworking applications, unless your sealing wood imperfections or flooring.

    3. Good question. Sanding sealers are mostly made from shellac. The #cut makes the difference. Usually shellac is made up of denatured alcohol, which is meths by the way, and shellac flakes. In the US they use a term ‘cut’. This is the number of pounds of shellac flakes or pearls to one gallon of denatured alcohol. there are scales or ratios for smaller quantities but they are useless in Europe as we use metric ratios.
      Sanding sealer is a thinner version used to seal the wood. i use this most of the time as a premixed manufactured product. As I said elsewhere, however, mixing your own shellac is best, but then the shelf life is limited to about three months. On a fine furniture project I would mix myself a gallon of shellac. On smaller projects like the tool chest, I found it more practical to buy in a premix and also, I want to keep things simple and doable for everyone.

    4. Wax is a natural part of shellac. One of the perceived weaknesses of shellac is moisture resistance. Some shellac is dewaxed to make it less permeable to liquids. Dewaxed shellac will be more water resistant to a water ring if you set a sweaty glass on it, but the regular shellac is actually more resistant to atmospheric moisture, the humidity which makes your wood project move. Shellac might not be the best choice for a kitchen tabletop, but for most furniture it’s plenty durable–and beautiful.

      1. The only problem with shellac and a glass is if the glass has alcohol in it. As Paul said before, you can’t put a whiskey glass on shellacked wood. It will resist water no mater if from the atmosphere or glass sweat. The wax just makes it more resistant. It is desolved by the alcohol.

  10. Great video. I have finished my staircase ballustrade with water based lacquer, 3 coats, topped that off with wax and polished it thoroughly. I would love to watch some more material on finishing, since, at least from my amateur point of view, it takes at least half of the work on a project.

    PS. Finished railing of the ballustrade I have mentioned http://i.imgur.com/s4QsvE4.jpg A keen eye could find some mistakes I made, but this was a first big (for me) project that I made and a first proper one from start to finish 🙂

    Thanks again Paul for the awesome work You guys are doing!

  12. Great video Paul and team. I started using this method of finishing beginning with the Wall Clock project and it has never failed me. Maybe I should say that I have never failed it. This method gives depth, mellow sheen and a very smooth feel. In fact, everyone who touches my projects are fascinated by how smooth they are.

    Thanks for going into depth with this method.

  13. Thank you for this. This video has now made me want to get to the finishing stage. Shellac is so clearly presented here. The video has taken away the intimidation surrounding finishing for me. Like much of your instruction, it makes one feel one can actually enter realms of woodworking one previously could not.

  16. Any tips how to clean the brush after your done?
    Mine always gets very very hard after cleanup and I can’t get it as soft as it used to be?

    I don’t have access to the pre-made sanding sealer but I order my flakes from a craft store.
    What mix would you suggest? (my mix is 300gr shellac with 1l alcohol)

    2. You can clean the brush in the same alcohol you use for mixing the flakes. I don’t clean it at all. It get’s hard and the next time you use it you stick it in the shellac solution for two minutes and will be soft again.

      Your mix is pretty thick. A 2lb cut would be around 230 gr per litre.

    4. Usually the mix is 250grams of flake to 1 litre of DA or Methylated spirits. Depending on whether you are in the USA or Europe. From there you can thicken or thin to task by adding more flakes or more DA. So, having said all that, you are pretty close anyway.

  18. What would be the best finish to use on a family dining table? I want really just want to protect the wood from getting stained or absorbing food/liquid. Thanks for the great videos!

    1. Polyurethane is the most durable for that type of use. You may not like the feel. The easiest repairable finish is Danish Oil. I like Deft Danish Oil available in the US not the UK. It’s very nice.

      1. Jsyk, I’ve heard Deft is going or has gone out of business so it will not be available here much longer (assuming it still is) in America if the reports are true. I hope I’m not spreading rumors here so if anybody knows the real truth please don’t hesitate to correct me.

  19. Great video! One thing I couldn’t understand was the “poor-man’s-hardwood” at around 15 minutes. Are you talking about the sapele or another hardwood you used for the box? Sapele is not really poor-man’s-choice or am I wrong?
    Thanks @paul-sellers

  20. Erick, I built mt dining table out of Oak and fumed it with ammonia to make the grain pop more. This gave it a slightly green look though so I compensated with garnet shellac to warm the colour back up. This treatment included the table top. I then carried on finishing just the top with a home made wipe on poly varnish. I just mixed standard poly varnish about 50/50 with white spirit (mineral spirits if you’re in the US) and applied it with a pad. I gave the tabletop about four coats of poly varnish this way and the finish has survived a couple of years of daily use and still looks like new.

  21. Paul another fantastic video, finishing other than paint is not one of my strong suits. I am going to try this method, hopefully I can find this some where here in the States. Same for the brush I have never heard of it before, but looks like the right tool for the job.

    Steve

    1. Steve,

      The Zinsser branded shellac works just fine. There is clear and sanding sealer. I’ve used both with good results. The clear still contains wax and is approximately a 3lb cut. The sanding sealer is dewaxed and is approximately a 1lb cut. I purchase mine from Lowes.

      The hake brush can be found at most art supply stores.

      Greg

  22. Hello Paul,

    when I use my steelwol 0000 with wax I get a dirty wax and srface because the steelwole leaves little pieces behind; is that poor quality steelwole?

    very nice video Paul: thank you and your friends!

    Erland

    1. Erland,
      The steel wool breaks down as your using it, so some debris is normal.
      A couple of things to watch out for are:
      The shellac may not be thoroughly dry and being still somewhat soft is being worn away leaving particles behind.
      The shellac may be old . You can test this by brushing a thin coat on some glass. It should dry rapidly (few minutes) and be tack free.
      A light touch is important, If you press too hard or scrub too vigorously(generating heat) that will abrade the coating and generate particles.
      And lastly, It’s important to sand lightly after the first sealing coat to knock down the “nibs”
      followed by removing the dust with a tack rag (available at any paint store).
      Hope this helps
      Best,
      Craig

      1. I had the same problem with steel wool leaving particles behind when I made the wall clock.

        But, it was my first project and I think I just got a bit over excited and didn’t give the shellac enough time to cure.

        I totally second what Craig says – make sure it’s dry; use a light touch and soon shellac and steel wool will be your go to finish!

        Cheers

        Bill

  23. This is a great video I’ve always loved the look of shellac but was always put off in thinking the process was quite complicated, can’t wait to build something and give it a go myself …..

  24. Paul, I’ve read that using anhydrous alcohol can produce even finer results. Have you ever heard of this or tried this? My understanding is that anhydrous alcohol has undergone additional processing to remove even more of the water even though typical alcohol has just a fraction of a percent.

    1. xjumper,
      The highest proof alcohol generally available is 190 proof or 95%. The balance is water and denaturants( generally Methanol). This usually works well.
      The 95% level is the highest that can be produced by distillation because the alcohol forms a constant boiling mixture at that level called an azeotrope.
      For anhydrous alcohol, the remaining water has to be removed chemically using a dessicant like sodium sulfate or a molecular sieve.
      Anhydrous ethanol may be available from a chemical supplier and would be costly.
      The alcohol is hygroscopic, picking up additional water from atmospheric humidity which is a good reason to use a small amount at a time.
      Best,
      Craig

  25. @paul-sellers,
    You made a passing comment at the very beginning about adding wax filler before doing the finish. I’ve been struggling with the balance between dovetails that are so tight they split the wood and gappy joints. I presume you had some gaps? thinking that eases my frustration. 😉

    I picked up some hard wax to fill some hairline gaps. The packaging says to finish before using the wax. Is that not the case with shellac, or did I buy a different product?

    Thanks!

    1. I am sorry if this hurts a bit, but there were no gaps in my joints and never are these days. Remember I make hundreds of dovetails every years so they always work out. i was using wax filler on the pin heads after nailing on my cock-beading to the drawer rim.

      1. It’s better for me that the bar isn’t low. I guess I need to practice more.

        Since you mentioned it, I do look forward to seeing videos on the cock beading and drawer veneers.

        Thanks!

      2. Ha. I had the same thought as Jason. I should have known better. Actually, though, it’s more comforting knowing that such perfection is possible with practice. If Paul couldn’t make a gapless dovetail, there’d be no hope for me.

      1. Dennis,

        I’ve tried that method successfully in the past. Now that I’m using Paul’s method, the parts are all coming together flush, and don’t have enough material to hammer. If I did, I would have to do a lot more planning to clean up the dovetail.

        I’ll just keep practicing.

        Thanks!

  26. This was a true masterclass in finishing. The thought of applying any liquid to your beautiful project after so many hours of hard work can be very daunting.
    I have always used polyurethane for durability but my next project will be finished in shellac as you described here.
    The love and care taken shines through in your commentary.
    Excellent work!
    This has been the best subscription I have ever made.
    Many thanks.

    Tony

  27. Hey Paul and Co.,

    I have a few questions after attempting to shellac my finished tool chest.

    1. I had some darker pencil marks that did not come off with the shellac finish. How should I get rid of these? Just sanding through the shellac?
    2. I used a pine wood filler on some spots (where I had grain tear-out) that are showing quite noticeably, is there any way to remedy this or is it just a lesson I’ve learned very well now?

    I have completed 2 coats on the chest so far.

      1. Ben, I would say the entire chest should be waxed. I would even wax the contact surfaces on the underside of the drawers and their mating runners to make it glide even more smoothly. The wax helps further enhance the beauty, protects the shellac, and adds durability and water resistance to boot.

    2. I hope this isn’t too late to answer, but to remove the pencil marks, I would use a scraper as Paul did on the glue spots. You can then blend and feather 2 coats of shellac into these areas to catch back up. Because shellac melts the previous coats and bonds as one solid coat you should have no issues. When I fill small holes or what have you, I wait until the finish is applied. Then I put a small amount of Crawford’s natural oil-based painters putty on a piece of plate glass, then mix in artists oil paints to match the existing finish. Once I achieve a good match through trial and error, I carefully pat h the nail holes. Perhaps you could try this by pulling out just a bit of the filler you used and making the final layer color-matched using this method. Give the painter’s putty a day or two to dry and ten shellac over it to match the existing finish. That’s what I would try anyway. Hope this helps.

  28. Just finished watching and learning. But the most interesting part was right at the end when Paul finishes using the shoe brush, he leans on the cover and has that grin on his face that says, “This is utter joy…”

  29. I am not sure i got this right:
    180 grit sanding (?)
    first coat of Shellac
    Sanding with 250 grit
    Second and third coat of Shellac (or add a forth coat) with no sanding in between (?)
    0000 steel wool
    Wax (what was the name of the wax?)

    In a totally different topic:
    Where can I get aniline dyes in the UK or Europe?

  30. Hi Paul,
    I’m having a problem with an old pine bench I’m trying to finish with shellac. I sanded off the old finish(shellac I think). I have about 4 coats on, and the surface is blotchy, It builds up in some areas and soaks in, in other parts. What do I need to do to get a consistent build up of finish.

  31. Have you tried sanding and adding another coat? It also depends on the thickness/cut of the shellac and whether the previous coats where fully dry. The other thing to do is to steel wool it afterwards. I hope that helps.

  37. Hi everyone, great video Paul!

    Would you recommend using shellac to finish kids toys, is it non toxic if swallowed or licked? I guess it’s not the more durable finish for this purpose. Maybe with just one coat, for a natural, oil looking finish?
    And by the way are there any wood species that you would recommend or DO NOT recommend in toy making (toxic, splinters, etc.)?

    1. Hello Adrian,
      It’s difficult to give a definitive answer. Shellac made with a non toxic denatured alcohol probably won’t be toxic. It isn’t very suitable for items that get handled a lot. I guess the question is whether the product needs finish on it or not. If so, you could use a food safe finish.

      As far as wood choice goes, it’s best to look up the individual properties somewhere such as The Wood Database.
      Best, Phil

  39. Hi Paul.
    You were talking about not being able to find a shoe brush in the UK that is appropriate for your finishing. Have a look at the natural type of curl brooms. I’ve been lucky enough to pick some up at second hand charity shops in in Canada.

    Miss seeing you at the US Woodworking Shows

    Cheers Russell

  40. Having just started woodwork as a hobby i have never finished a project yet. This video has given me the courage to give shellac a go. However, after the sanding sealer coat it looks like a different “Cut of Shellac is used, bu i feel i missed the actual product used. Please can anyone enlighten me as to what proprietory clear Shellac would be best.

  41. I have mixed my own using dewaxed shellac flakes and denatured alcohol. Usually a 2 lb. cut works well. That’s 2 lbs per gallon, or 2 oz. per cup. Takes a while to dissolve but goes faster if you warm it in a water bath. No open flames, however!!

  42. One thing that would be great to see in a future video is how to fix mistakes, and what not to do. I made the mistake of applying paste wax after I applied shellac, only to then discover I had brush marks I needed to get rid of. As far as I know it is near impossible to fully remove the paste wax, no?

    1. Hi Allen,

      Paul says:
      I wouldn’t suggest thinning, I would suggest moving much more quickly in the application and not fussing with the surface as you might with polyurethane. It just takes practise and a decent brush.

      Kind Regards,
      Izzy

  44. Allen,
    Yes, thinning your shellac will certainly help.
    Also, the quality of the brush you’re using is very important.
    I suggest doing a Gopgle search for:
    “shellac brush”, this will return more information than I could reasonably cover here.
    Best,
    Craig

  45. I’ve finished a small coffee table I made using this method. Four coats of shellac and wax polish. But after I put a small flower vase it left a mark on the table top. I had re-cut it with steel wool and re-apply the wax to clean the damage, which is still slightly visible.
    Did I do something wrong? I don’t want to rebuff my table top everyday and be afraid to put stuff on it.. 🙁

    1. Hi Sergey,

      Paul says:
      I would recommend making sure you aren’t putting anything wet directly on to the shellac finish. Shellac is not always a water resistant finish, and although i’ve never had trouble with mine, you could use either a waterborne finish like polyurethane, Danish oil, or something like that.

      Kind Regards,
      Izzy

  46. very interesting video 👍 I have a question? what’s exactly the task of the shoe brush, in the end of the finishing process? do you need it to remove the wax excess from the grooves or is there anything more?

  47. FYI: Hake brush, pronounced “hah-kay” is a natural bristle Japanese watercolor brush. Very inexpensive, but not cheap. The bristles will flake off around the edges until broken in so if you notice them breaking there’s nothing wrong with the brush, it’s just a baby. The best performance is in the teenage to late middle age “years”… of course. Over time the bristles will wear away from the tip upwards (rather than breaking off at the ferrule) leaving a very short bristle bed. This is the very best stage!
    Using anything other than warm soapy water to clean it will degrade the glues used to attach the bristles to the handle sending it straight into old age. Paul’s method of letting the shellac dry on the bristles then softening up by soaking for a few minutes in fresh shellac is the best way to go.
    Cheers.

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