Finally got a clean shellac finish on a curly maple tabletop after three tries

I used to brush on a 2-pound cut straight from the can, which always left streaks and dried too fast. Last week, I switched to a 1.5-pound cut and applied it with a pad in tight circles, like I saw a guy do in a video from a shop in Asheville. The third coat went on perfectly clear. What's your go-to method for tricky grain like curly maple?

3 comments

3 Comments

marybutler5d ago

That pad method is solid for tricky grain. Did you thin the shellac with alcohol or buy it pre-mixed? The solvent makes a big difference.

susan815d ago

Used to buy the pre-mixed stuff for years, thought it was fine. Tried thinning my own with alcohol last month and the control is way better, it dries slower so you can really work it. Totally changed how I deal with end grain, it doesn't gum up at all now. The pre-mixed stuff is just too thick for padding sometimes lol.

adam_baker5d ago

Wait, you were using the pre-mixed stuff for YEARS without thinning it? That's wild. It's basically useless straight out of the can for any real finishing work. The fact you put up with that gummy mess on end grain for so long blows my mind. You must have spent half your time sanding it back out. Thinning it yourself is the only way to actually get a decent finish.