Applying Shellac WITHOUT French Polishing

[Luke Maddux]

Preface: When I refer to shellac as a finishing medium in this post, I'm referring to shellac flakes which have been dissolved in methylated spirits/denatured alcohol, not any kind of shellac-based, liquid product which can be bought in stores.

I decided I wanted to learn to French polish a couple (or is it a few now?) years back, so I asked a friend if he would teach me.

That was the first time I ever had my hands on shellac in any form. Since then, I've only ever used shellac in the manner I learned it at the time, with a bit of my own evolution to the process, of course.

With that said, I'm a bit confused about the concept of applying shellac in any other manner. During the polishing process, the shellac looks pretty godawful in raking light right up until the point when it doesn't... and that's when you stop. At that point, it's absolutely stunning, and I consider it to be the finest finish available for just about anything on which it is aesthetically appropriate.

So how do you do it without polishing it? I've seen a bit about applying it with a brush, but when I brush it on prior to polishing, again, it looks pretty darn average.

Does it have something to do with how you mix it? I use a one pound cut, currently. I'm considering going to a two pound cut on the next piece I make, at least for the initial "bodying up" step or maybe just the mop coats.

Interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this. I'd also be interested in seeing any completed furniture people have made and finished with shellac which was not French polished.

Cheers,
Luke

[Swifty]

For the base of this clock, after sanding to 800 grit, I first applied a coat of sanding sealer (old 2lb cut shellac 1:10 with metho) and cut back with 600 grit; then just used a rag to wipe on six or seven coats of two pound cut. Only an hour or so between coats. Finally sanded 600 grit then polished with some UBeaut EEE and then done. Still very nice, but not French polish!

[Christos]

I have only applied shellac with a brush or rag once I had dissolved the flakes.

I don't really want a higher gloss on the piece so no polishing or cutting or spirt off. Another thing that I have done once the flakes have been dissolves is to filtered them using a coffee filter, very slow process and normally leave it for hours or overnight in a closed container.

The way I used the rag is similar fashion to what you have for a rubber when french polishing. There is no wading inside the rag just the rag balled up. I dip the tip in the polish and apply the finish to the piece. Sometimes when I have thinned out the shellac a little more I apply about five coats if I go further I start to get more of a shin.

I think when you thin it out a little more the shellac is a little more forgiving as there is less chance is streaks.

[Alkahestic]

I've never done a french polish but I like to think I've had moderate success with shellac. On smaller pieces I've brushed on what would be close to a 1lb cut, 2-3 coats and it has a nice even satiny finish. I've attached a photo of the legs of this table, it's blackbutt with 3 coats of shellac, not glossy at all and sorry for the terrible photos. I also brushed on the shellac for the top - less success there. It's not terrible in raking light but I had to do so many coats (10+ I think) to get something approaching a flat layer over the entire table top that the shellac layer is way thicker than I intended it to be and I don't have the same clarity as just a few coats. Photo of the top with a few coats is included as well. I think I could definitely treat the top like a thick film finish and do a 'cut and polish'. I'm currently reworking the legs and may just end up refinishing the whole table.

Edit: Posted thumbnails instead of embedding the whole photo .