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Shellac

Shellac is a natural finish that comes from the secretions of the lac bug.  Commonly used on flooring and furniture, shellac gives the surface a bright and finished look and can be used to restore antique furniture.

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01: Reclaimed Oak Flooring

Characteristics 

  • A natural finish with low toxicity

  • Available in clear, orange, and pigmented white

    • Orange shellac used to restore antique furniture and floors​

    • White shellac is used as a stain killer on raw wood

  • Not water-resistant and will turn white when in contact with moisture

  • Not as durable as synthetic finishes

  • Shellac finishes are UV-resistant

  • Available in waxed (natural) and dewaxed formulas

  • Very effective primer because other finishes bond well with shellac

  • Entirely food safe if used with the correct solvent

  • suitable for all wood types

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02: Finished wood paneling on walls

Production & Maintenance

Production:

  • Sourced from a natural resin secreted from the lac bug

  • Resin is harvested from the tree branches as flakes then processed and dissolved in denatured alcohol

  • to achieve white or clear color, the shellac is bleached using hypochlorite

  • Applied to furniture and floors using a clean rag, brush, or spray

Maintenance:

  • If the shellac is in good condition, the furniture can be cleaned using a mild dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water

  • DO NOT use oil-based soaps because the alcohol in them will ruin the finish

  • to repair nicks and scratches, you can add more shellac to the area and buff it out with #0000 steel wool

  • To repair an alcohol stain, you can buff the area with a small amount of lemon oil and #0000 steel wool

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03: Quarter sawn oak cabinets finished with shellac

Environmental Impact

  • Becuase it is made naturally by the lac bugs, the sourcing of shellac has a very low environmental footprint

  • Shellac is non-toxic

  • Production mainly takes place in India and Southeast Asia, so transportation has a large footprint

  • The shelf life is very short, so if it is not used within 6 months, the finish will dry out and will be wasted

  • Shellac has a short lifespan becuase it can easily be damaged by alcohol, but can be repaired by applying more shellac to the finish

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Application

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The most common application of shellac is a finish on furniture.

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  • Shellac can be used on tables, countertops, chairs, and just about any other wood furniture

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  • Shellac can be applied to all types of wood

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  • To protect the finish, coasters are needed under any moisture

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Organizations:

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RPM Wood Finishes Group

http://www.rpmwfg.com/

04:  Dewaxed shellac applied to an office table

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Resources

Images:​

01: Houzz

02: Houzz

03: Lumber Jocks

04: EMTECH

05: Hardwoods Flooring Talk

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Information:

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Page by Ruth Baker

05: Shellac gives a finished look to restore floors in an old home

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