Is Shellac Still Relevant as a Finish in Today’s Projects?

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Asked By CraftyNinja99 On

I'm curious about shellac as a finish. Given that it's not very heat or scratch resistant, do people still find it preferable in certain projects compared to more durable options like varnish? Has shellac, particularly finishes like French polish, lost their appeal nowadays?

3 Answers

Answered By MusicalMaker12 On

Shellac is still commonly used in making musical instruments, which shows it can be a great finish even today. It's known for aging well and is quite easy to touch up. Plus, it works well as a sanding sealer too—just make sure you use de-waxed shellac for the best results!

Answered By NaturalFinishes101 On

I’ve been using shellac with paste wax on some projects, like pencil boxes and shop furniture. It provides a super smooth surface and has no VOCs, which I appreciate since I prefer natural finishes. Shellac is great for softer woods like pine since it's repairable and flexible; hard finishes can crack. Plus, it works well as an undercoat for other finishes too!

CraftyNinja99 -

That sounds like a smart approach to using it! I love the idea of combining finishes for both depth and durability.

MusicalMaker12 -

Totally agree! Using shellac as a base makes sense, especially for projects that need a bit more protection.

Answered By WoodworkerJedi43 On

One of the biggest advantages of shellac is how easy it is to repair because it doesn’t form layers like other finishes. That’s why I love using it for shop furniture. If you get a scratch, you can just reapply a little shellac and blend it right in.

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