Tips for DIY Shellac on Woodwork

Homeowners that have a lot of woodwork, both indoors and out, naturally want it to appear fresh all the time. However, they may not know the correct ways to keep a shellac finish looking its best. Now that spring has arrived, the warmer weather makes it easier for people to take their woodwork outdoors in order to avoid fumes in the home.

There are tips that homeowners can use for their DIY, or do-it-yourself, woodwork finishes that require an upkeep of shellac. These tips will leave the object looking extremely smooth and shiny. The best thing to do when beginning to shellac a piece of woodwork is to use a proper cleaning cloth. A good piece of cloth is cheesecloth, which will thoroughly clean dust off from any wood surface. Woodwork will be tough enough for sanding or be able to be shaved when using one part shellac and one part alcohol; this technique is good for brittle woodwork. Any brush that is being used must be kept very clean. Otherwise, the brushes will suffer from a buildup of residue.

One important tip when refinishing a wood project is to use the shellac before doing anything such as applying any coats of fresh paint. The shellac will help in disguising any flaw on the woodwork, such as burn marks, scuffs or stains. The shellac will also help in building a foundation which will prevent any of these flaws from bleeding through the paint. Using shellac as a source to seal cuts in lumber is an old-fashioned way in preventing any open grain from cutting or splitting. All of these tips can provide any DIY woodwork project a look as though it was professionally done.