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My buddy in Denver swears by shellac for everything now, but I'm not sold
We were finishing a set of maple chairs and he said he hasn't touched polyurethane in over a year because shellac seals and finishes in one go. He claimed it saved him 3 hours on a recent dining table job. I still think poly is tougher for daily use furniture, but his point about speed got me thinking. What's your take on shellac as a primary finish for client work?
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scott.jana20h ago
Used to think shellac was just for antiques until I refinished my own kitchen table with it. That was five years ago and it still looks perfect, even with two kids and daily meals. The key is using a good wax over the top for extra protection. Now I use it on most client pieces unless they specifically need something waterproof.
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Shellac is great for speed, but it's a soft finish that doesn't hold up to spills or heat. I'd only use it on low-wear pieces like picture frames or decorative shelves. For client furniture that gets daily use, the extra time for poly is still worth it.
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