I'm curious about the drying time for shellac. I'm using a 1.5 pound cut in my workshop, which has about 35-40% humidity and is a bit cool for July (60-70 degrees). I've applied just one coat because I'm planning to use AquaCoat grain filler/sealer afterward. They recommend a "seal coat" of shellac underneath to speed up the AquaCoat application, as the water-based AquaCoat works better with a layer in between to prevent it from directly soaking into the wood. My main question is, is letting the shellac dry overnight enough before applying the AquaCoat? It felt dry to the touch within 15 minutes, so I assume that 12 hours should suffice in these conditions. I'm eager to hear your thoughts, plus any experiences you have using AquaCoat, since I'll be using it on my new quarter sawn oak workbench.
1 Answer
Fresh shellac dries really quickly, often within hours. Since you’re using a thin coat, overnight should definitely be enough time for it to cure before you apply AquaCoat. Just make sure it feels smooth when you sand it; if it clumps up into gummy bits, it’s not ready yet. Sounds like you’re on the right track!
Thanks for the reassurance! The shellac I used was super fresh, made just a couple of hours before application.