How a splash of shellac saved my pine table project

I remember when I first started finishing furniture, old timers would always talk about wash coats but I never paid much mind. Then I picked up this pine table on a haul through Vermont, and no matter what I did, the stain came out blotchy and awful. I sanded it back twice, tried different brands of stain, and even thought about giving up. Out of frustration, I dug into some old notes and found a tip about using a thin shellac mix as a sealer before staining. I mixed one part shellac with four parts denatured alcohol, brushed it on, and let it dry completely. When I applied the stain after, it went on even and smooth, just like magic. It's funny how these old methods still work when the new stuff sometimes fails. Now I always keep a jar of that mix handy, and it reminds me that sometimes the simple fixes are the best.

2 comments

2 Comments

ivanlewis5d ago

Did you use dewaxed shellac for that mix, or does it not matter for a wash coat... I've heard that can affect later finishes. Also, does that trick work on other softwoods like fir or spruce, or is pine just the worst for blotching?

riverl755d ago

Is blotching really that big of a deal?