Shellac's Durability Over Years

Dan Shellac Is a very old finish I believe dating back to ancient egypt. It has it’s limitations but has lasted centuries on some antiques,when you see furniture with french polishes that.s shellac. It’s a good finish but you have to consider what you use it on in the furniture’s intended use. You have already mentioned it’s limits so take that in account when using it.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

I think one of the big advantages to shellac is that when you do muck up the finish, you just get a rag with some denatured alcohol on it and re-smooth it. Maybe blend another thin coat into the surrounding bits.

Whereas fixing issues in a poly based finish is much much harder.

-- Dan Lyke, Petaluma California, http://www.flutterby.net/User:DanLyke

My Oak Rolltop Desk desk was built in 1895 and still has the original shellac finish, plus a century of patina.

-- Randy, Rustic Artisan, a family tradition. (No PM's - auto-deleted.) - "I am a seeker, not a follower."

A lot of people do not think about their household cleaners and polishes that will destroy the finish of shellac. You know the stuff that claims it will clean everything and leave a beautiful shine, it will also removed the finish. Been there, done that…

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

I use shellac almost every day. I restore antiques and it is invaluable for making shallow scratches go away. It leaves a great shine and everyone thinks I have performed a miraicle. I also use it as a barrier coat between incompatible finishes, such as urethanes and new waterbase polys. The stuff is a magical cure all for so many situations. If anyone questions your use of “shlak” just tell them it was good enough for the Pharoes as the original fingernail polish. Consider the use for the piece. Tabletop= shlak sealer—then your choice of polys.
End table—shlak will be ok. Did you ever wonder what your great grandmother’s crocheted doileys were all about? They were about protecting the shlak finish on all that great furniture. They are worth big $ now. Don’t know if I answered your question but in my opinion shlak is #1 in my experience. KB1

-- KB1KnoB