The Best Shellac Wood Finishes
Shellac is dried and flaked resin secreted by the lac bug of Southeast Asia, dissolved in denatured alcohol. It has been used as a clear wood finish since the 17th century and was the primary furniture finish in America until the introduction of nitrocellulose lacquer in the 1920s. It remains the only truly food-safe wood finish, the best sealer under other finishes, and the most repairable finish in existence.
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How to Choose
Shellac comes in two formats: pre-mixed liquid and dry flakes. Pre-mixed has a shelf life of about one year after opening; dry flakes dissolved in denatured alcohol are fresh every time. The cut (ratio of flakes to alcohol) determines the thickness. A 1-pound cut is thin and penetrating; a 2-pound cut is the standard finishing coat; a 3-pound cut is thicker and better for sealing. Blonde shellac is nearly clear; amber and garnet add progressively more warm color.
Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac Seal Coat
Zinsser Seal Coat is a dewaxed shellac in a pre-mixed format: 100% dewaxed shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol at a 2-pound cut. Dewaxed shellac can be used under any other finish (oil, water, or solvent-based) as a sealer or barrier coat. It is the standard product for sealing oil-stained wood before applying a top coat that would otherwise bleed through.
The universal sealer. Every finishing professional has a can of Seal Coat.
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Zinsser Bulls Eye Clear Shellac Spray
Pre-mixed shellac in an aerosol can for small projects, repairs, and spot finishing. The spray format makes it practical for touch-ups on furniture, sealing knots in pine before painting, and applying thin coats on turned objects where brushing is difficult. The clear formula adds no color to light wood.
The format that makes shellac practical for small and precision applications.
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Shellac Dry Flakes 1-Pound Blonde
Blonde shellac dry flakes dissolved in denatured alcohol produce the freshest possible shellac with no shelf-life concerns. Blonde (or lemon) shellac is the lightest colored, adding minimal warm tone. For furniture makers, instrument builders, and finishers who want complete control over the cut and freshness of their shellac, mixing from flakes is the correct practice.
The freshest shellac possible. Mix only what you need, in the cut you need, when you need it.
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