![]() ![]() ![]() The “Tung Oil Finish” and “Walnut Oil Finish” that you often see in home improvement stores isn’t actually oil. So first off, there’s a reason I keep saying “100%” oils. You can expect your Shellac Sealcoat to last around 3 years after opening. It’s also worth noting that while Sealcoat still has a somewhat short shelf life, it’s longer than traditional shellac. Zinsser does have two other premixed shellac products (which contain wax and I therefore don’t recommend,) so be careful when you’re buying! To get the more-traditional flakes, you have to head over to the woodworking specialty stores. The other nice thing about Zinsser’s Shellac Sealcoat is that it’s readily available – Zinsser’s premixed shellac is often the only shellac sold in big box home improvement stores. It’s wax-free, which means it sticks to pretty much anything, and you don’t have to worry about something going wrong and the finish not adhering. I usually go with Zinsser’s Shellac Sealcoat, which you can see in-action on this awesome cedar chest makeover. Good news, though! Zinsser has come out with a line of premixed shellac where you don’t have to do this. This is a giant pain, and the success of your project is completely dependent on mixing the shellac correctly. Shellac is traditionally sold in flakes, which you then mix with denatured alcohol before applying. Is it dry? No weird splotches? Then you’re good to go! What to Buy Simply test some on a piece a scrap wood. It’s also really easy to tell if your shellac is bad. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that traditional shellac is mixed right before using (see next section about this,) so theoretically you don’t have unmixed shellac sitting around waiting to go bad. Oils and other wood finishes usually last much longer in the can. ![]() Secondly, traditional shellac has a short shelf life – less than three months. But for a general project, this usually isn’t an issue. If you’re planning to use shellac on a wine goblet, maybe don’t. Shellac does have two main downsides, but I think both of these are easily overlooked considering the additional protection shellac provides.įirst off, shellac doesn’t hold up to alcohol. Over time, this leads to more wear and tear on the wood. While they help the wood repel water, they don’t actually prevent it or anything else from reaching the wood pores. In comparison, waxes and oils soak into the wood. Unlike other options, shellac forms a barrier on top of the wood, stopping water, dirt, and other things (*cough*crayon*cough) from reaching the pores of the wood. In my opinion, shellac is the best natural wood finish for one main reason: it’s the most protective natural finish on the market. If you click and make a purchase, I may receive compensation (at no additional cost to you.) Shellac Note: This blog contains affiliate links. There’s more to it than that, though, so lets dive in! 100% oils, on the other hand, are perfect for cutting boards and other projects that benefit from a finish that soaks into the wood. Shellac is the best natural wood finish when a hard, durable coating is needed to protect the wood. So you’ve built something with wood, and you’d absolutely love to finish it with a natural wood finish. ![]()
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