Shellac starts life as the by-product of a tiny insect, no larger than a poppyseed. By the time it is grown, harvested, and refined, it has evolved into one of woodworking's most beautiful, …

Shellac is a natural resin that's derived from the secretions of the Lac bug--an insect that feeds off trees indigenous to India and Thailand.

True, shellac won’t hold up against spilled alcohol. But since dewaxed shellac bonds beautifully with every other finish, you can always follow it up with a wipe-on varnish to protect vulnerable …

Is there any difference between Zinsser’s SealCoat and regular Bulls Eye shellac? Learn the answer on how to seal your project with dewaxed shellac.

Q: I used waxy shellac by mistake to washcoat my mahogany tabletop. Can I still apply grain filler or do I need a coat of dewaxed shellac first? Rick Wells, Marysville, MI A: You haven’t made a …

Dec 29, 2024 · I am planning to finish a red oak floor in a 1920s house with shellac. Does anyone have any tips regarding how many coats and what cut to use? I […]

Aug 28, 2019 · Can the Can (ned) Shellac Creative director Mike Pekovich demonstrates how easy it is to make a batch of shellac from flakes. In short, denatured alcohol is an …

Jun 30, 2002 · Am preparing to finish some high-end casework in cherry and debating whether to use all dewaxed fresh shellac or to seal with 1 lb cut and coat with other finishes. […]

The truth is that shellac is a great fast-drying finish that’s easy to apply and perfect for small projects and last minute gifts. It dries quickly between coats and lets you build up the finish …

See how Peter Gedrys makes a pad, or rubber, for shellac in this sidebar to a video series on refinishing furniture. Find links to the whole video series below.