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Shellac - sand between coats?

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Shellac - sand between coats?

#1

Shellac - sand between coats?

Joe in a Cleveland suburb

>Hello.

I am using shellac for a walnut cabinet. I haven't used shellac a lot, just on smaller things. I am brushing it on. It's actually the seal coat stuff.

I know shellac will pretty much dissolve into the previous coat, but do you generally sand between coats? If so, with what? Steel wool? Sand paper?

Oh, and what do you do after the last coat? Rub out with some wax and steel wool. Similar to varnish? I'm just looking for a decent sheen, not highly polished.

It just occurred to me though that wax might have a solvent that could have a bad affect on the shellac, no?

Thanks,

Joe

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

#2

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

Brian Philipp

>I'v always had good results doing a light rub with 0000 steel wool, and then wiping off fubers with a tack cloth. I use the zinnsser stuff in a can and cut it by one third with denatured alchohol to slow up the drying time while brushing a big project.

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

#3

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

NickB

>I do sand, but not necessarily between every coat. Definitely after the first coat (220 or so), then maybe every other coat (320 or so). The 0000 steel wool + wax finish off looks pretty good when you're done.

Hope this helps,

Nick

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

#4

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

jcousins

>i put 3 heavy coats of 2# shellac - then lightly sand with 220. then another 2 coats and sand with 350. switch to 1# cut - coat - sand with 400 - another coat sand with 600 - and depending on the build up maybe another coat. after that i polish.

jerry

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

#5

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

Steve Schoene

>Sanding between coats is only needed to level out defects. No need to sand to get good adhesion. 320 grit is usually good.

Re: Shellac - sand between coats?

#6

nope

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>I just run a sharp card scraper over the surface to take off the nibs. It will help level it off if the surface is pretty uneven.

Bruce

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