Joe:
I was wondering how you finish your furniture...
A large chest, computer desk, and little box...
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Jerry: (revised version)
I've been using shellac for several years and here's my take
on some details.
Using a coffee grinder speeds
mixing / dissolving wonderfully.
I then strain it through a paper
cone/mesh paint filter.
Smaller pieces, I pad it on -
as someone described.
plane taking off and landing.
I usually put on 3-4 coats of 2# cut -
then sand with 350.
Another 2 coats - then sand with 400.
Switch to 1# cut and put on another 3 coats.
Sanding with 400 then 600.
I find that the 1# cut really disolves the
previous layers and smooths things out nicely.
After that and it has cured for a couple of days,
I usually polish with Pumice and some swirl
remover.
Larger pieces I have found that spraying 1# cut
is the way to go
Gives a great base
Maybe 4-5 coats
Then some padding to rub it out.
Jerry
Jerry: (original version)
For things like
Jewelry boxes and wall hangings
(things that don't get a lot of hard use), my usual finish is:
6 coats of
Shellac. (dewaxed)
4 coats of 2# cut
2 coats of 1#.
Polished with
Pumice & Rotten Stone.
Finished with 2 coats of wax.
For desks & chests:
(thinking they get more use):
Same number of shellac coats
3 coats of lacquer
Polishing and wax.
Applying Shellac
Unless it's a complex piece,
I pad on the shellac.
Take a piece of clean cotton about 6" square.
Fold it over a wad of cotton.
Dampen it with denatured alcohol.
Put some shellac on it.
Then like an airplane landing and taking off.
(from end to end).
Lay on the shellac.
When it feels a bit dry,
Add some more shellac and...
Just keep working it - back & forth - full length.
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