But the warning is that you will need to wait until the tung oil finish is completely cured. Zinsser "BullsEye" brand shellac is the most commonly available premixed product. Wetting down is great for reducing patchiness when applying stain. as to the shellac over the gel stain, shellac is compatible with any finish.. Blocks all odors. I tried General Finishes gel stain over waxed shellac once (shellac was a seal coat over poplar to prevent blotching), not knowing better, and it seemed like even with a light sanding the stain … It's good for bookcases, desks, side tables and picture frames — anything that won't be exposed to extremes. 3. Also works great for sealing wood, knots and drywall prior to applying paint. If you want to stain over an existing stain on wood, choose a shade that is darker than the original stain. When I began to sand the shellac with 320 it immediately burned through the sheallac and through the stain. Apply 2 to 3 coats of paste wax and buff between coats to a … Be sure to strip the shellac, clean the surface, and sand as necessary. Shellac can be used over any stain except alcohol-base types and over any filler. As with shellac, water-based polyurethane won't hold up well to heat and chemicals. To make a pint of 2-lb-cut shellac, you need to do a little math. Take the Cotton Ball Test to find out. After the shellac has deteriorated a few years in the can, the finish you apply over it may wrinkle. That would be known as a 'glaze' (color coat trapped between other layers). They all held up MUCH better than the first two in the scratch tests. From the late 16 th century up until the 1960s when synthetics products became widespread in their use. When it softens with water, it has a tacky feel which is a magnet for dust. Order online at Screwfix.com. On interior surfaces, Cover Stain® dries quickly and has great hiding power providing outstanding stain killing and enamel undercoating performance. Shellac (/ʃəˈlæk/) is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. If white spots form on the shellac, the likely culprit is water or condensation. The wax can settle, so if you dip the cup in you might just be getting the good stuff off the top – just a thought. Shellac has a very short shelf life; old shellac does not dry properly. Once shellac is dissolved in alcohol, it begins deteriorating (more rapidly in hot temperatures). It takes longer to dry and it doesn’t dry as hard. Weigh the proper amount of shellac flakes. Depending on the state of the shellac, you may even need to consider applying a thin coat of primer before you paint the final coat. The color of shellac can vary from light yellow or gold to deep orange or reddish-brown. finish to use over water based stain? FOLLOW UP: I applied 3 coats of shellac over stain 12 hours after applying the stain. Liquid or water spills will appear as a large white stain on the shellac finish, while condensation from a cup or glass can cause a white water ring when left on a shellacked surface. Shellac is one of the most durable finishes and easy to repair too. Lightly sand after using to prevent paint from crackling. Apply TWO uniform thin COATS of Shellac. A third issue is shelf life. Thinned shellac is recommended for sealer coats. Minwax Polycrylic is an example of a fortified water-based polyurethane than can … It was the industry standard for turners at one time. cut (2 parts denatured alcohol, 5 parts shellac). Shellac brings out the rich warmth of wood grain making surfaces look soft and natural instead of plastic. It is a resin that is secreted by the lac beetle onto the small branches of trees found in parts of Thailand and India. It takes longer to dry, as a painter and decorator, time is money, I need products that dry fast. Shellac can be used over any stain except alcohol-base types and over any filler. It just melts with alcohol that’s it’s main fault. Shellac is a safe, food safe wood stain made from a resin secreted from the female lac bug and ethanol. Buy just enough for the job, and junk any leftover shellac. There are 32 ounces in 2 lbs, and 8 pints in a gallon, so 32 divided by 8 equals 4 ounces of flakes. Shellac-based primer, sealer and stain killer. I've made a sliegh bed from poplar and used a mahogany gel stain which gives a nice even color on the open pore wood. Cover Stain® is the only interior / exterior primer, sealer, stain sealer and bond coat that dries for recoat in only two hours. To mix your own shellac, pour a measured amount of denatured alcohol into a glass or plastic container. Seals porous surfaces with excellent enamel holdout, even sealing bleeding knots and sap streaks. Offers excellent adhesion to glossy surfaces, including glass. Thanks Jerry, Once I apply the shellac can I then apply my finish over the shellac? Suggestions for using amber shellac over stain? Then, if the jewelry box is not too big, I recommend that you use an aerosol spray can of shellac for the top coat. The guideline with shellac is "the thinnest coating … Varnish, when used as a final protective coat over two or three quick drying coats of shellac, doesn’t re-wet or soften the shellac … I'd like to create a darker overtone. Paint with Chalk Paint® 4. Using Shellac Shellac has an intriguing history and interesting origins that could be the subject of a whole article in itself. Cover Stain: I tend use cover stain less than the two products above for one main reason. Touch the finish in an inconspicuous place with a cotton ball dampened with acetone nail polish remover. All-natural and non-toxic, this shellac is safe for use with children's toys. Amber or Clear. If you want to stain the wood lighter or if the wood has a lacquered finish, you will need to strip or sand away the original finish. Over that I wiped on a coat of Bullseye Sealcoat dewaxed shellac. From Paul Snyder, forum technical advisor: You can apply oil-base varnish (non-poly) over shellac without any problem. There are good reasons why Shellac, despite being less popular today than in its prime, is still in widespread use. Yes, you can stain over shellac and then seal the stain. Long-lasting; Colors and tints can be added Click to see full answer Similarly, you may ask, how long should stain dry before Shellac? The trick to successfully painting over the shellac is in the preparation of the finish and the wood itself. Cover stain has the same properties as BIN shellac and if time allows I will also use it to cover stubborn stains or prime bare wood. That would be known as a "glaze" (color coat trapped between other layers). Use denatured alcohol to thin shellac; use alcohol or ammonia for cleanup. If you realize you need to shellac after applying Chalk Paint®- that is okay…go ahead and apply the shellac. That will take at least a week or so to be sure. Thinned shellac is recommended for sealer coats. Zinsser 123 water based primer, Zinsser Cover Stain oil based primer, and Zinsser BIN shellac based primer. But you should plan to seal the stain as its binders alone won't keep it from rubbing off. Shellac is water thin and brushes out well, even over itself. I had planned on then sanding before applying several coats of Arm-R-Seal. Using Wax over a Shellac Finish. Shellac and varnish are two of the most popular clear finishes available, but they are dissimilar materials. It doesn’t tolerate hot fluids either. Benefits of Shellac. Anything over 100 years would be shellac. Shellac is a resin that is used to treat and seal woods. Since the solvent in shellac is alcohol and not mineral spirits, it will not re-wet or remove an oil based stain. I ran a test on boards of pine and oak, where I used gel stain (minwax), oil stain (minwax), and water-based stain (general finishes) each, over 1) no prep, just sanded to 220, 2) minwax pre-stain conditioner, and 3) 1# dewaxed shellac. Stain was still a little tacky but the shellac dried fast and I applied additional coats of shellac at 2-3 hour intervals. Sand the floor with 120 to 200 grit paper and remove all dust. For best results, thin to a 2 lb. The Differences Between Shellac & Varnish. Oil based or waterborne stain are both compatible with shellac. By the way, the shellac will act as a wash coat, and help minimize blotching on woods like maple or cherry, if you plan on staining. A more practical use for paste wax for today's modern woodworker is to use it over an existing polyurethane, varnish, shellac, or lacquer finish, to give a piece an unmatched luster and shine. Shellac has enjoyed a long run as a popular topcoat for wood. But you should plan to seal the stain as its binders alone won't keep it from rubbing off. Apply the shellac at container consistency and let dry for 2 hours. 2. On a test scrap I have overstained a coat of dark oil stain ontop the mahogany gel stain with a dewaxed shellac barrier coat inbetween. Just remember you cannot shellac directly over wax! Wax. Many floor finishers believe that this is the most beautiful floor finish in the world. ... Shellac is a really good finish for many applications, I don't see any problem with using it as you have stated. The word “varnish” is an umbrella term, so it does not refer to any specific product, but rather to a grouping of products or a finished effect. Thanks for … Rob Johnstone: The good news is that you can indeed apply shellac over a tung oil finish. Water softens shellac and overtime it will wear away from the surface. Blocks stubborn and persistent stains including water stains, marker pens and more. Excuse me for being obtuse, but finishing is the area of woodworking about hich I know the least and which gives me the most problems. Shellac is perhaps the worst choice for the outdoor use. Get shopping advice from experts, friends and the community! If you ever set a wet glass on shellac finished furniture, you'll notice a white ring. If the cotton ball sticks or the finish softens, it’s varnish, lacquer or shellac. It is available in a clear or amber tint. It seemed to work great and I’ll be able to assemble/deliver this unit tomorrow. If there is no effect, it is paint or polyurethane. Suitable for use on interior surfaces and spot priming of exterior surfaces. Shellac is a versatile, non-toxic wood finish that enhances the natural grain while adding smoothness without the plastic-like qualities of polyurethane or lacquer. It does have a limited shelf life -- generally 6 months for pre-mixed products, 3 years for flakes. When it dries, any dust or dirt essentially glues to it. Features: Will adhere to glass and ceramic. The rest of the test pieces are all sanded quickly with 200 grit sand paper, and painted with 3 different primers. Yes, you can stain over shellac and then seal the stain. Oil based or waterborne stain are both compatible with shellac. Varnish is not wood stain, because wood stain adds color or pigment to the wood surface and varnish does not. It is processed and sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish.Shellac functions as a tough natural primer, sanding sealant, tannin-blocker, odour-blocker, stain, and high-gloss varnish. 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