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Just had to pick between shellac and lacquer for a 1920s dresser
I was working on this old oak dresser and the client wanted a finish that looked right for its age. The choice came down to mixing my own shellac flakes or using a modern spray lacquer. I went with a 2 pound cut of amber shellac, mixed from flakes in denatured alcohol. It took three coats over two days, but the color and depth are just perfect. The shellac really warmed up the wood in a way lacquer never could. Anyone else have a go-to finish for period pieces like this?
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bethjackson5mo ago
Honestly think you missed out with the lacquer. That spray stuff is way more durable for a piece that gets daily use, and it dries in minutes, not days. Shellac can get wrecked by a spilled glass of water.
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