128 - Shellac Under Polyurethane

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I have heard countless times that you should never put polyurethane over waxed shellac. From books to magazine articles to forums to DVD's, the message is always the same. Even the back of the shellac can itself says not to use polyurethane. Now I have always taken the "better safe than sorry" route, simply avoiding regular waxed shellac. But there have been so many occasions where I have heard of people accidentally using waxed shellac under polyurethane with no detrimental effects. And frankly, I have never heard a first hand account of a terrible finishing disaster using this combination of supposedly incompatible finishes. So what's the deal?
To answer that question, I decided to do a little experiment for myself. I wanted to see if I could find any evidence of a weakened bond between polyurethane and waxed shellac, when the shellac is used in the typical manner as a sealer. My test is simple and completely non-scientific. There are just too many variables at play to answer this question with any real degree of certainty. But my results gave me enough confidence to say that if you are using the finish as a sealer coat (2lb cut or less), I see no reason not to use whatever shellac you have on hand, even if it has wax in it.
This is a topic that I will continue to watch. And hopefully we'll hear from some folks who have had experiences, good and bad, with this finish combination.
*EDIT* It was immediately suggested that I do a Scotch Tape lift test. I still had the samples in the shop so I jumped in and did a few more tests. Using both duct tape and Scotch tape over a grid work of slices made with an X-acto knife, no lifting of the finish was observed on any of the boards. I even put tape over the area where the epoxy drops were and no lifting was observed there either. These finishes are holding on for dear life!
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@lessnyder6245 2 жыл бұрын

I understand that I am 12 years late to the party but having been a lab tech in a films company I appreciate this type of trial. One thing you could add to the trial is whats called a "cross-hatch" test which is quite aggressive but should tell immediately if there is going to be a failure. In the lab we use a cross hatch tool but you can use a razor knife and create a series of cross hatch cuts, cover them with different types of tape, allow different dwell times and then peel the tape off comparing how much finish peels off.

@johnathonallen2545 Жыл бұрын

If you still have those pieces lying around maybe 12 years later would be a good time to come back to it to see how well they fared.

@z.a.dewitt8664 Жыл бұрын

Right, yeah. I've always understood that it creates issues with longevity. I'd be interested to see this as well.

@ttttenney 9 жыл бұрын

I used 1 coat of Shellac under 3 topcoats of Polyurethane on my workbench and it has held up perfectly under lots of use for close to 2 years now. I did that based on this video and have never regretted it. Thanks!

@BradsWorkbench 5 жыл бұрын

tttenney water or oil based poly? Just curious

@La_abbess 4 жыл бұрын

Just what I was looking for 😁

@johncolumba7945 2 жыл бұрын

How's it holding up now? No issues?

@BowserBooBoo 4 жыл бұрын

I have put multiple coats of Amber shellac on 6 panel pine doors and followed up with 2 coats of poly. While I haven't tried pulling the finish off, I can tell you after several years, the doors look wonderful. I used shellac to color the doors because that is the wood finish throughout the house.

@ramoncotto7586 6 ай бұрын

Thank you! Your testimonial is good enough for me to try it. I am applying it to what I believe to be pre-select brick. I will just check to see which has a better heat resistance because the brick surrounds the stove.

@ccccen 7 жыл бұрын

Had the nicest day today went for supplies at HD and didn't have enough, had to put the shellac back. This gentleman came up to me and gave me the shellac I had put back as a gift. I want to say thank you very much if he's from around here.

@ricfootball 5 жыл бұрын

What a gent, thanks for telling this story, gives you faith that there are kind people around. Hope your project turned out well

@miked8227 5 жыл бұрын

Sometimes I like to do random acts of kindness just to see the persons reaction, like is this guy of sound mind? 😆

@robertphillips3992 4 жыл бұрын

Mark, Thank you for this video and thank you to all the other viewers that left constructive comments. Both are greatly appreciated.

@pablogazmuri5656 11 жыл бұрын

In the woodturning world Shellac is consider "universal finish" meaning that anything can go under or over Shellac. That has been my experience. I hope you keep this boards for at least year and give us an update. I enjoy your videos very much, thank you.

@bestyoutubernonegraternumber1 10 ай бұрын

Dewaxed shellac, yes. Waxed shellac, no.

@robw9171 5 жыл бұрын

I recently saw your other video about shellac and stain vs gel stain. This info is so useful. I'm planning to apply stain to some 100 year old pine and poplar repurposed from an old piece of furniture. Thanks very much for your videos!

@chihuahuaverde425 10 жыл бұрын

Great demo! I appreciate letting us know to use shellac under polyurethane for drying purposes. Usually I am waiting ten hours to put the second coat on and your first coat over the shellac looked great.

@tedspens 9 жыл бұрын

The real test would be to expose the samples to heat and cold, like setting them in a sunny window for a while then setting them in the path of an air conditioner. The expansion and contraction might then cause the poly to lose it's bond to the waxed shellac more easily than it would the other samples. I'm thinking along the line of old house trim which has been polyurethaned over and has alligatored over the years. The original oil varnish finish is slightly gummy compared to the more brittle polyurethane, so the poly cracks up and floats around like sheets of ice on water. Of course, the old house trim would have a considerably thicker layer of finish than your samples, but just a theory I feel worth sharing.

@bighands69 3 жыл бұрын

Nearly anything that is subjected to the elements will succumb to it.

@mikedunn8427 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah I was thinking the micro movements over time due to humidity changes could weaken the bond.

@Thevoiceoverguy6 12 жыл бұрын

To support what Mark is showing us. I have done linseed oil, a spit coat of waxed shellac and 2 coats of water based poly all in one day with no issue what so ever - so yes it can be done!

@shaistafenwick2841 7 ай бұрын

Thanks! I’m a baby woodworker and was alarmed at the hyperbolic naysaying about shellac under polyurethane. Thanks for your advice and exploration of the options!

@woodwhisperer 7 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@cooperturek1181 7 жыл бұрын

perfect answer and solution to all the questions i've been thinking about today. thank you! love your channel. Inspiring and informative.

@thedevilinthecircuit1414 4 жыл бұрын

Me and 857 other viewers: "Don't brush over the Sharpie ink."

@woodwhisperer 14 жыл бұрын

@ironlionkalo Shellac pretty much binds to everything. That's what makes it such a great sealer. It can seal off impurities and oils in the wood, allowing your other more sensitive finishes to bind.

@ctpctp 6 жыл бұрын

Just built a coffee table from reclaimed old-growth doug fir. Did multiple coats of unwaxed shellac for color and depth, and then 4 coats of minwax whipe-on poly for toughness. Looks so so so good. Just one example of why someone would use poly in a thick layer under poly.

@cryptozoo765 8 жыл бұрын

This gave me the confidence to use shellac as a sealer. Well done.

@guguyoyo 7 жыл бұрын

The one thing I could think could cause some problems having shellac under the poly would be in a very specific situation. First we would need to have a thicker layer of the shellac under the poly and second long exposure to temperature differences, given that the shellac layer is thick enough to expand so different from the poly that would eventually peel, but than again any other type of varnish over shellac would do the same thing... man this is the reason I watch your channel all the time, very clever thinking. Thanks for the video!

@joem0088 Жыл бұрын

I sure hope that you are right because I just did a floor with poly over natural shellac. In a week or so I may even do the duct tape test as you did. Love your vid !

@blounsb99 10 жыл бұрын

I totally get what you mean by testing results for the way you would use it. Just to add to the mix, I did floor sanding/refinishing for years and do wood turning now. We could tell if any wax had hit the floor (even overspray from a can of Pledge) because the urethane would wrinkle immediately. But I use the regular shellac, cut, as one of my sealers for turning without any issues.

@dreastman 10 жыл бұрын

Cool test! I wonder if it would have made a difference if you hasn't diluted the waxed shellac..

@javiergonzalezf910 7 жыл бұрын

hi there, wandering if you have used linseed oils then use shelak to seal and laker on top ,

@anthonymarker4984 Жыл бұрын

12 years late. But, there IS a difference between waxed and non-waxed shellac when you're applying stain (as opposed to poly). You get a much more even coverage of stain with the non-waxed shellac. I've done with this with cherry a number of times. In each case, I seem to get more even coverage of the stain with the NON-waxed shellac, then I cover the stain with a top coat. In my case, Arm-R-Seal. Thanks for the tips, Mark. You got me started down this wonderful road. Much appreciated.

@music-xr4co 5 жыл бұрын

recently finished a partscaster guitar...used bullseye amber shellac on a maple body to match the color of the neck..the neck was a gloss finish the shellac was not the same gloss..which i wanted..so rather than start over i used the hand rubbed gloss poly over the shellac..it turned out great and 2 months later no negative signs...quick tip..for a yellow/honey/gold finish..i gave the guitar a yellow stain first..then the amber shellac..it turns out great the way the yellow underneath shows thru the amber..thanks for this video..i'd never have tried it until i saw this..

@Billkwando 10 жыл бұрын

How have the pieces held up, 4 years later? I already applied waxed amber Zinsser to my guitar headstock, and I have to clear coat it with SOMETHING after I put on the waterslide decal. I bought a can of Minwax poly, not knowing.

@woodwhisperer 12 жыл бұрын

Try a natural brush for oil-based poly. Keep the synthetics for water-based materials. The natural bristles will allow you to lay a smoother layer of finish. You might also try diluting a little with mineral spirits to help the finish flow a little better.

@cathyjanehale 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video! I just put spray poly over OBShine Juice... 1 part shellac, 1 part denatured alcohol, and 1 part boiled linseed oil... On a turned pecan wood bowl... So far so good!

@Ismlor 11 жыл бұрын

I recommend doing this test on a contoured piece. Maybe a spindle or even a newel post. Maybe the adhesion comes into play on the edges. Then apply your tape across an edge. The flat board test is pretty much your optimal situation and rarely is that the extent of a finishing project. I appreciate your sharing this!

@kenfirestick1842 3 жыл бұрын

I’m trying Aqua Fortis, followed by 1 coat dewax shellac, then 2-3 coats poly - it’s for a high traffic area kitchen island and this gives me faith it might just work! Love the look of curly maple on gun stock and gonna give it a try. Thnx Mark

@MSNINDY53 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. Very much appreciated. I'm building wall and base cabinets for my basement and plan to do a seal coat of the Zinsser Sealcoat with a satin clear polyurethane topcoat for all interior surfaces. I want to do this for the inside of the cabinets so they'll not be so dark inside. For the exterior though, I'm staining the wood with Minwax Golden Oak. My question for the external is, what do I lay down on the plywood as I stain and then final coat with Polyurethane? Would I use the Zinsser Sealcoat at all on the exterior, i.e., sides, frame and doors? If so, in what order? Sealcoat, stain, poly? Thanks.

@word67 7 жыл бұрын

I'm working with the same three finishes right now and was asking the exact question. After seeing this I'll try the poly on the back side of cupboard doors I'm refinishing. If it works the fronts get a coat too. thanks

@MrKennected 14 жыл бұрын

I like the way you covered this, it made sense to me. I too would like to see more on the subject of spraying finishes rather than brushed. You do a great job and its probably only a matter of time before you're picked up by a big network, Norm..., er, uh, Marc. I'll be checking more videos out, I will be making an end grain cutting board soon. -Ken

@chrisjohnson6482 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video Marc, I've found the same results in my experiences. Have you gone back to see if these boards ever dissolved as was claimed they would do by some other commenters here?

@fiesalalawar7796 5 жыл бұрын

Hi mr wood. Thanks for this great video. My question is: May I put the epoxy on a lacqered piece of wood?

@kirbyintherapy 8 жыл бұрын

we used shellac as a sealer on stained oak staircase, then put 2 coats of oil based poly. We had major issues with that staircase's finish, cracking, peeling. So yes indeed waxed shellac under oil poly does certainly cause issues in the trade.

@onlyjuan3828 6 жыл бұрын

This comment wrapped up his whole video. lol

@phantomcreamer 5 жыл бұрын

So why doesn't he have peeling and cracking? What did you do differently? Maybe no sanding between coats?

@BradsWorkbench 5 жыл бұрын

...

@phantomcreamer 5 жыл бұрын

@Marxine St.Arline There's nothing special about how wax ages

@dosprompt9165 5 жыл бұрын

@@phantomcreamer I think the difference is that he was using a water-based polyurethane in this video and the man used in oil based polyurethane on the staircase

@Specialized1993 7 жыл бұрын

Im staining Birch wood, im thinking of spraying it with my hvlp gun and what im wondering is should i go ahead and use the shellac before, and can i spray it or should i just wipe it on?

@mikebetts2046 8 жыл бұрын

The way I was taught to test for adhesion problems is to score and X into the finish with a sharp knife. Then press a piece of tape down firmly over the X and yank it off quickly.

@kingsley1606 6 жыл бұрын

More so for film latex finishes. paint

@grubbetuchus 6 жыл бұрын

Exactly as you wrote. The presentation showed nothing without a cross-hatch adhesion test. Absent such a test, the presented information has little value in helping us to select and choose the right finish.

@peterschmidt9942 6 жыл бұрын

I've tried using Shellac tinted with stains on guitars. I've applied a few coats of shellac until I got the colour I was after. Then sprayed a protective layer of acrylic spray paint. It does adhere somewhat, as long as there's no pressure on the finish. Where I've applied pressure (like screwing in pickup rings, tuners etc), that's where the finish will unbind from each other. It may have also been not allowing the shellac to dry for long enough (I can't remember how long I left it, but I'm sure it was only a few days at most). Could be the stain not allowing adhesion.

@proileri 4 жыл бұрын

I think acrylic also has a relatively long time to be fully cured, I think up to 2-4 weeks to harden 100%.

@woodwhisperer 14 жыл бұрын

@Shannariano Haven't done any impact testing. But I did do further adhesion testing using a Scotch tape test. I used an x-acto knife to create a grid of cuts and then put the tape over top of that. Neither duct tape or scotch tape could pull up any finish.

@AZTechLabs 7 жыл бұрын

FYI. it's the UV light from artificial or sun light over time that breaks the bonds between the shellac and poly

@bastiangigas 5 жыл бұрын

Is it anything about that out there? I'm quite interested. Thanks

@mountainbikerdave 4 жыл бұрын

so not for outdoor use, got it!

@IanLoughead 2 жыл бұрын

FYI, it is UV radiation, not UV light. And a good Poly finish will actually block UV.

@mwilson70201 7 жыл бұрын

Have you had any experience with water based, oik modified poly? I was gifted a gallon of the min wax version and am curious about it's quality.

@michebre 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for this video. What would you use to prevent streaking when ebonizing oak plywood using Solar Jet Black NGR dye by Behl, or using India ink? thanks.

@1XX1 6 жыл бұрын

I use sanding sealer on libraries, banks and museums. Shellac does have a good application portfolio, but it's good to follow professional directions.

@JPEBeard 10 жыл бұрын

Question: Can you put several coat of the amber waxed shellac then put on a layer or two of the dewaxed clear shellac on top of the waxed one? Then put on a layer of poly???

@placitas52 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Your informative video saves me, as a total amateur, time and anguish over something that probably doesn't matter. But I enjoy the hobby. Even my wife had to laugh at measuring cups appropriation for the greater good.

@dlr441 4 жыл бұрын

Good video.. I have been using 50/50 (shellac/alchohol) on many different woods for many years. I have one piece of furniture I built for our own use about 25 yrs. ago. 50/50 to seal and pull up any loose wood fibers and 3 sprayed on coats of poly. It looks the same as it did when I made it. BTW white oak. I have to assume it is a CYA ploy on the part of the maker of the pollyurethane. Like you I am a bit mystified. Thanks for the tests.

@mikelovetere4719 8 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial....personally I use the de-waxed spray can clear shellac...a light sanding and 3 coats of water poly. The shellac eliminated the grain raising of just the water based poly

@zeroumashi2947 7 жыл бұрын

i bought some minwax indoor/outdoor helmsman spar urethane clear satin finish and was wondering if it can be used as a finish over zinsser bulls eye shellac amber. it's going to be used on paneling for my guitar amp cabinet which will be used indoors and outdoors so I'd like to know if this would work without separation problems and if it would hold up to indoor/outdoor use. thanks in advance.

@ScottCooper136 3 жыл бұрын

Love the channel. I would love to get your opinion on something. I have a butcher block kitchen table that was my grandmothers that I inherited. The finish is coming off the top and I am trying to come up with the best solution to reseal it. What finish would you use?

@bauermobiletoolsystmfabrct8686 5 жыл бұрын

Great video!!! Thank you. Can you try this experiment with an unaltered 3lb cut orginal Shellac Amber formula? Would be great to see if just one coat of the 3lb Amber Shellac would be ok under a couple coats of oil based Polyurethane

@shannonmcafee4169 5 жыл бұрын

using tung oil, is the best way to seal your wood before you poly. I found that you can get a more beautiful finish and seal, by doing this

@johnhanes5021 4 жыл бұрын

I have used zinzer shelac over various brands of gell stain that were brushed on and left to dry instead of wiping it all off, then finished with waterbase Varathane . I've done it this way for many years. My wife does the stripping and staining and I had to come up with something to make her method work. I have a large house full of beautiful re finished thrift store furniture that says this works just fine. You do have to make sure the stain and then the shelac are more than thoroughly dry or your going to be re stripping and starting over. Shelac over minwax gel stain is difficult, old masters gell stain is good, i've put Varathane directly over it once or twice but I only use the shelac in between anymore. Try a test piece before you do a big area.

@FavioRamirez 10 жыл бұрын

Thanks for posting this! I am mid-project and ran into this very frustrating question. I will go ahead with the Poly then. Thanks again!

@williamlillmars7250 5 жыл бұрын

I've also tried many combinations including water based polycrylic on oil based stain. It's all about drying, humidity and temperature. We know about that in MN.

@woodwhisperer 10 жыл бұрын

If you want a shellac finish, you can certainly use that over the stain. I wouldn't recommend staining after the shellac application unless you cut the shellac by quite a bit first. Shellac will seal the surface and prevent the stain from absorbing as much as it would in raw wood.

@frankrodriguez6424 4 жыл бұрын

The Wood Whisperer I had that exact question and now it’s answered. Making a lazy Susan and want to seal it , but want to stain first. Now your non waxed says it’s sanding sealer, is that still shellac?

@stephenkotleba1052 4 жыл бұрын

I was wondering would this work on a Redwood fence that would be in the sun? My friend turned me on to this video...should I put the Shellac on first then my stain, then Shellac again?

@wxman46 5 жыл бұрын

About five weeks ago, I finished the plywood surface of a new workbench with two coats of white shellac, followed by two coats of Minwax semi-gloss poly. So far, absolutely no sign of adhesion problems. I've used poly over spit coats of shellac for years and never heard that we shouldn't use poly over shellac. In my case, time will tell I guess, but hey, it's a workbench! I If it does start shedding off, we'll strip it and refinish.

@music-xr4co 5 жыл бұрын

just finished a guitar build..used oil based stain on the body in a tan color..the neck was the vintage yellow/orange color and did not look good with the body color...so instead of sanding and restaining the body , i put about 3 coats of zinsser amber shellac over the body after i gave it a light sanding with 400 grit...well thank God the amber shellac added just the right touch of yellowish/orange color that the body now goes perfectly with the neck...i also love the fast drying time of the shellac...i did not check for compatibility of shellac over oil based stain...but so far so good.

@TheVerspagets 5 жыл бұрын

Hi, if I put already a Howards Feed n Fax finish over a bowl, can I still put a shellac finish over it? Or do I need to sand the wax off first? thanks

@FriendM2010 6 жыл бұрын

Appreciate the effort and my new miter station may just get light cut shellac and water based poly on top... Cheers!

@SpeedysWoodshop 10 жыл бұрын

Your videos are so awesome!!! You take a very systematic approach.

@erickvaliente8158 5 жыл бұрын

What kind of primer can i use on wall are with wax finish to apply regular wall paint?

@Floppycats 7 жыл бұрын

hey hey hey, the wood whisperer - i bought a butcher block round maple table from craig's list a few months ago. it had what-i-think-was polyurethane that had orange peeled and chipped - so i sanded it down with 80-220 paper and now need to stain and finish it. i have looked on youtube on how to approach it and am overwhelmed with the options. so then i put an ad on craig's list looking for someone who could finish it, because i figured it was too much for a DIY homeowner. what are your thoughts and do you have a video about water-based poly? i want to stain the table a dark color, i think with a satin poly on top of it.

@marciolangeani9992 6 жыл бұрын

Hi, one question . Did you use bi component or mono regardeing the polyurethane? Thanks for the experiment!

@can-cruiser 9 жыл бұрын

Great video.. Thanks for posting and taking the time to do the expriment

@ethanf.6848 2 жыл бұрын

I once had a can of that Zinsser Shellac Sealcoat eat through the bottom of its own can and spill onto my cabinet. It did the opposite of a great finishing product. Suggest you decant into glass bottles for storage.

@EdgerHumphrey 12 жыл бұрын

@TheWoodWhisperer I just thought it was great that someone actually took the time to test it and share the results. A fine job you did of it. But after careful consideration I opted to skip the shellac and just use several coats of poly. I treated the cedar with a pre-stain conditioner before staining so shellac would be overkill. I'm still waiting for the stain to settle so if this is a bad idea I'm all eyes.

@tylerbinner2462 3 жыл бұрын

Finishing a pine bench in our mud room. 1 coat of wax clear shellac so far because it provided the color, finish look and sheen we wanted. Will lightly sand next. Then the question is do I just continue with light layers of the same shellac? Will that be a good enough surface hardening agent? Or should I just use the 1 shellac layer then move to polyurathane or polycrylic top layers? If either of the polys, oil or water based?

@woodwhisperer 14 жыл бұрын

@Xar0mir I wouldn't really count on the glue doing anything productive to a finish. So damaged or not, I wouldn't recommend using epoxy on the surface.

@stevehalton6125 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent presentation and information, thanks.

@jamesnasmith984 5 жыл бұрын

The real assessment requires the test of time, the most punishing test for any wood cover. A bright, fluent, easy to follow presentation, as usual.

@inouveaution 14 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate finishing as the topic here, almost can't have enough videos about the subject. I have a great book that really opened my eyes to the possibilities, "Wood Finishing with George Frank" by the late George Frank I would highly reccomend it.

@richardscogin6906 4 жыл бұрын

I hope to get a response from this. I watched your video on American Green Lights and a few others. I hope my order arrives next week 40 fixtures also thanks for the discount. What am I putting all of these in a 28x40 garage / my space place. I am putting sanded plywood on the walls and I would like to seal the wood 48 sheets. I want the place to have a very clean look. What are your thoughts Seal Coat with a water based poly? Thanks for any help.

@brandonc503 9 жыл бұрын

oh . how does using pressure treated wood change how you would finish the wood? when it comes to a evener/sealer, stain, clear coat. thanks again

@kingsley1606 6 жыл бұрын

Nice tutorial. What about a product like Arm R Seal.?

@brandonc503 9 жыл бұрын

so you said thin layer of shellac as thin layer first for sealer.. is that just for the stain to take evenly or to seal and to let stain take evenly? is the final clear coat not always a 'sealer' as you had said thin shellac for seal then polly.. why not just polly? or just shellac? i found Thompson water sealer wouldn't let polyurethane hold as Thompson has wax. thanks

@erniezamora9509 8 жыл бұрын

can I use shallac under a uv polythare for a lampost to be exterior side thanks

@222WCSO 5 жыл бұрын

Very interesting and helpful. Thanks for the experiment and video.

@EdStaniszewski 9 жыл бұрын

i am resurfacing a shuffleboard table, i applied minwax sanding sealer, sanded with 320 grit, applied first coat of oil based poly and there are several pits. i try to cover these up with no luck during first coat. what should i do? sand after dry and hope they fill?

@dbeaulieu9730 2 жыл бұрын

You in fact did prove that polyurethane is not bullet proof but stands up well regardless of base coats. Thanks for that!

@EdgerHumphrey 12 жыл бұрын

The guy at the paint shop hands me a quart of shellac and a quart of poly to treat my stained t&g. Says "this is what you need". Great. He should know. That's all he does. I get home. Read the labels and it tells me the exact opposite. Chit. I think maybe someone on the youtube tested this out. Sure enough. Many thanks to you woodwisperer.

@mikebetts2046 3 жыл бұрын

A standard way of testing the bond is to score an x with a sharp knife, then press some tape over the x. Give it a quick yank of the surface and see if the coating is peeled.

@woodwhisperer 12 жыл бұрын

@EdgerHumphrey I think you'll be fine with the poly only. Always simplify the process whenever possible.

@woodwhisperer 12 жыл бұрын

@EdgerHumphrey Glad to help. But make sure you test first. My little experiment here didn't really prove much. Just raised more questions. :)

@johnvonjasper7893 2 жыл бұрын

Although they both have the warning about poly, the Bulleye Amber has little to no wax in it. The Bulleye Clear is the waxy one.

@woodwhisperer 12 жыл бұрын

Yes, shellac will work as a pre-stain conditioner to prevent blotching. Test on scraps though because if you use too much, the stain won't take.

@wswerv1 6 жыл бұрын

Great post. BTW, I also noticed that the Bulls Eye wax shellac says “DO NOT THIN” so you broke two “rules “ in your experiment. I love it!

@Thestripper1 11 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your answer. The finishing oil is aplied in 11 thin coatings over a two week period and has now cured over a week since last coat. I was hoping it would work just to put laquer over the oil since it has filled all the pores very nicelly and I should be able to get a mirror finish quite fast with laquer. Is there any easier way to fill the pores of wood before putting on laquer?

@wakeboarderblunt 14 жыл бұрын

Great Video Mark, I wonder if the chemical reaction or heat of the epoxy setting actually pulled up the top coats rather than adhesion?

@woodwhisperer 10 жыл бұрын

Well its value in blotch control and oily woods is well-documented. Just do a few searches for info on that. As for saving time, you can use shellac as your first coat of finish and you'll be ready to apply your first coat of oil-based poly within an hour or so, as opposed to applying the oil-based poly first and waiting a day for it to dry.

@maxgiantbanana7344 4 жыл бұрын

I have used the shellac foe the first and second layer, can I apply shellac on it?

@traog2445 7 жыл бұрын

Just a guess at this but it may be that the light sanding removes any light skin of wax this allows for good adhesion. It may not work over a built up coat of shellac. If multiple coats of shellac are built up there is no need to put another finish on, if other finish is used just use the shellac as a wood sealer.

@RCShadow 14 жыл бұрын

I appreciated the test. I have never used one finish over another but it is good to know I could. Maybe keep the test pieces and at a later date, show the results?? Good stuff! Keep it up : )

@wellspringer 2 жыл бұрын

I'm considering using shellac to finish a long cabinet top made with paduak wood. I gather shellac comes either with some wax - perhaps naturally occurring, or de-waxed. I'm wondering if it's the shellac with wax that might not top coat with poly.

@martinbasdevant4816 8 жыл бұрын

Hi, thanks so much for your video, very interesting as I never fast-forwarded it. Pretty rare on KZfaq ;-) May I a couple of questions about the Shellac. In your point of view : Since I don't want to use chemical urethane, is Shellac only efficient to protect a coffee table? Like 3 coats? I need the clearest Shellac finish to keep the color of the white oak : do you recommend an industrial Shellac product like Bull-eye or doing my own mixture Platina flakes + alcohol. If so do you have any recommendations of flakes brands and alcohol proportions? Thank you so much Martin

@jadaro2600 8 жыл бұрын

You may find the water based polyurethane to be less of a chemical mess than any cut of shellac and without any tinting issues. Minwax water based polyurethane seems to give the most crystal clear wet look of any "clear" coats I've ever used. Just my two cents...you will get some grain raising issues so sand and clean between coats.

@DavidA-411 3 жыл бұрын

Having used shellac under urethane for over 30 years I can tell you I have not had issues. If you are unsure the use varnish over the shellac then urethane if you like. Personally, I like the look of varnish over shellac buffed to a matte finish as it is the least cloudy of them all.

@cliqboom1088 2 жыл бұрын

I know this is an old video, and I like Ted's suggestion, but nice information to have. Wondering if you ever went back to these boards or another experiment.

@jonmatthews4254 2 жыл бұрын

Proved it to me. Handy to know, thanks. Usual story, good prep wins!

@warehouse321 10 жыл бұрын

If i wanted to stain a piece of wood, could i use the shellac as a sealer, apply an oil-based stain, and then apply the poly? or does using any kind of sealer inhibit the stain from coloring the wood?

@vanhetgoor 2 жыл бұрын

Some problems only occur under certain conditions. Once a customer wanted the wood to be finished with a particular top-layers, so that the look and feel, and the gloss was the same as other wood. Some products of some brands have more solvents in them then others, sometimes the solvent of the top-layers is re-solving the layers already on the wood. But if only a very thin coat is being applied there is nothing to worry about.