Re: Finish question


"Doug Miller" <spambait@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uEP4g.18525$4L1.8561@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <GRO4g.11448$Es3.7386@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"77clearly" <nevermind@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I recently completed a small night table/end table. It was the first
thing
I've done in quite a while, I am fairly happy with how it came out.
One exception. I finished it with tung oil followed by 6 coats of
Shellac,
then some furniture wax. I was very happy with the finish as well. I
placed it next to the bed and put the usual things on it, small lamp,
alarm
clock, etc.
Now I notice there are areas of the finish which are damaged. The
impressions of the base of the lamp and even the small alarm clock are
permanently in the finish. I can fix this easily, but I don't understand
why it happened. This is the first time I have used shellac. Is this
typical? What did I do wrong? Did I not give the finish enough time to
cure? How long does it take?

You didn't give it enough time to cure. It's hard to say exactly how long
it
takes, because that depends on (among other things) temperature, humidity,
the
number of coats, and the strength of the shellac -- but I would have
waited at
least 48 hours before putting anything on there.

I suspect that you may also have used too much shellac. You don't say what
cut
of shellac you were using, but it seems to me that six coats is kinda
heavy
for the typical 3-pound cut; I probably would have stopped at three or
four,
or used a lighter cut. You may also be applying heavier coats than you
need
to. Three light coats are better than one heavy coat.

[snip]

Is it possible that the shellac was old and didn't cure completely?


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How to Fix Problem of Having Finish Beaned Up On the Surface?
    ... I sprayed two coats of dewax shellac on the dining table (the ... local home center only sells dewax shellac in a spray can anyway). ... using fresh rags and then dry with more fresh rags. ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Re: How to Fix Problem of Having Finish Beaned Up On the Surface?
    ... There is some controversy about the nature of the shellac in Zinnser ... spray it on in very light coats using a Preval spray head ... Spray on total of at least two light coats. ... Wash everything with soap and water and let dry before using them. ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Re: How to Fix Problem of Having Finish Beaned Up On the Surface?
    ... There is some controversy about the nature of the shellac in Zinnser ... spray it on in very light coats using a Preval spray head ... Spray on total of at least two light coats. ... Wash everything with soap and water and let dry before using them. ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Re: best way to protect homemade vanity in master bath?
    ... Shellac's chemistry isn't tough enough for bathroom use. ... Was it me, I'd do three coats of gloss poly, sanding with 220 grit between coats. ... I might use shellac for the first coat, 'cause it goes on a little easier and dries faster and sands out easier and the two topcoats of poly will protect it. ... A coat of poly or shellac prevents the stain from sinking in. ...
    (rec.woodworking)
  • Re: Making a higher gloss friction polish
    ... > shellac & mix it equal parts shellac, denatured alcohol, and BLO. ... I do use green wood 2.5" thick. ... coats which dry almost instantly. ... oil find separate places in the wood. ...
    (rec.crafts.woodturning)