Hey everyone, I've got some beautiful knotty pine that I want to use for a telepost cover in my basement. I love how it looks naturally, but I've heard I need to seal it properly. I'm looking for a sealant that stays clear and doesn't yellow over time. Do I need to seal both sides of the wood or just the outer side? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I've had great success with shellac finishes! It's a classic choice for sealing wood, and it doesn’t yellow too much. You can check out this article for more details. If you can get Zinsser Bullseye Shellac, that's a solid option! You might want to dilute it with denatured alcohol, like a 1:3 ratio as mentioned in the article. And don’t worry about conditioning the wood first if you’re new; just go ahead and apply the shellac directly!
I recommend using a high-quality water-based polyurethane. It actually provides a great finish without making the wood look yellowish. Look for brands like General Finishes or some professional options from Sherwin-Williams. If you can spray it on, that would give you the smoothest finish too. You really don’t need to seal all sides unless it's a larger piece, as it's more of a moisture barrier than a protective coat in a dry basement.
What specific products do you suggest from Sherwin-Williams?
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely look into the Bullseye Shellac and the dilution ratio. Appreciate your help!