Thread: Using floor polyurethane for furniture

Standing desks are all the rage, it's only a bit further to a stand on desk

Hey V-man. No problem here with flippancy, or with trying to get a great finish for little work. I think that self-flagellation is unpleasant! But, then, I say this as someone who loves true French Polish -- shellac put on very thin with a 'rubber' so my version of 'easy' and 'lazy' may be different? I don't actually find it difficult, I find true pleasure in it.

I would never use a floor finish on a piece of furniture ... but diluted poly (of any nature) maybe fine for 'disposable/transitory items like monitor stands.

"Real" furniture, that you want to stand the test of time, needs a real finish -- one that will last with the furniture. It may take a little more effort, but it will be worth it. That 'little' can be VERY little if you develop some knowledge and a taste for the quality finish results that lift your making to the top level.

I used a floor poly on my kitchen benches about 7 years ago. it does not last as advertised and now will have to be painstakingly scraped or sanded off. How I wish I used a quality oil finish !!!! Time will tell if you cheat.

I'll second the vote for an oil finish.
When completing some stereo speaker cabinets made from veneered chipboard I was advised to rub them down with 400 wet and dry soaked in Danish Teak Oil. I did this then completed the job using steel wool and the said oil, finishing off with a soft lint free cloth. It took a while. .
The result was amazing. Better than any poly stuff of today. I recently had to replace a "tweeter" speaker in one of the cabinets. They still look quite handsome ...I built them while still a student in 1971!

Originally Posted by richmond68

Standing desks are all the rage, it's only a bit further to a stand on desk

The next step you might say.
Just one further step up from that would be onto my new monitor stands.
One small step for me. One giant...
OK I'll stop it.

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I thought the next step for me would be to try Danish oil. However I got talked into trying Shellac for my next project. I was told it's easier for beginners. I've mixed it up 125mg to 500ml of 100% solvent. Then I discovered it has to settle for a day.
Done that but now a new issue. Unfortunately I don't own a paint strainer and it seems I'm fresh out of stockings so I won't be doing any shellacing until I widen my undergarment collection.
Wish I'd just got the oil.

Anyway once I do my stocking shopping, I'll try shellac on a smaller project I have ready for finishing. Should I use a rag or a brush?

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OK there is hope for me after all. I actually tested the shellac on some scraps.

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If you're using shellac flakes and dissolving them, it doesn't have to sit for a day. You can agitate the container (don't use a metal container) to encourage the flakes to dissolve. Pulverizing the flakes would also speed up the process.

For application, you can use either brush or rag, people swear by either. I find a brush easy enough. One of these is a good starter brush and isn't too expensive https://www.eckersleys.com.au/produc...oat-hair-brush Dried shellac will dissolve when exposed to alcohol, so you don't really need to be too fastidious with cleaning up the brush either, just leave it in meths for a minute and it'll be soft again. Shellac can be sprayed as well, so you could give your compressor and gun another go. If you want a glossy finish with a brush it's about 8 coats (for me anyway).

Originally Posted by Alkahestic

Shellac can be sprayed as well, so you could give your compressor and gun another go. If you want a glossy finish with a brush it's about 8 coats (for me anyway).

Thank you very much for the information.
I unintentionally pulverized the flakes a little to get them through the little funnel I used.
I had thought it might be able to be sprayed so I'm happy to have that confirmed. I was thinking of spraying this stool I have made but the wife has some other idea so I'll wait and give her a chance to do the finish on that.

I'm thrilled to learn a more glossy finish comes with layers. I did one test coat with a rag on some scrap pine. It just makes it go a bit yellow. Now you have inspired me to do lots more coats with a rag and a brush on these scraps and see what happens.

How much time should I give between coats and should I give it a light sand with 600 wet n dry between coats?


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If you want REALLY lazy finish, there are two. Both will give you great results.

-- Nitrocellulose (specifically Wattyl Industrial Stylewood). Spray a tack coat, wait ~5 minutes, spray another wetter coat. Do a third if there is any left in the gun. Spray it in thin coats. Its dries like a flash even in weather. Done.

-- Kunos Livos oil. Flood it on (or use a brush), rub it all in with a mouse (a balled rag). Wipe up the excess and pop mouse into an airtight jar. Let it dry overnight, or 3 hours if really impatient. Do again in the morning but with the mouse and a little bit of oil. Second coat is just to get the thirsty bits. Silky smooth and DONE.


If you want a really schmicko result, use Poly (I use Cabots Cabothane). Spray thinned with poison of choice (I use Wattyl L780), spray down in thin slightly wet coats. Let it flash off, spray another. No more. Wait 6 hours, one more, slightly wetter. LEAVE it the F alone for a day, or two. Resist! Let it harden. Then you can colour sand it to flat gleaming perfection (youtube: colour sanding)

I do this for some of my fancy boxes where people want "shiney" (i.e. the bogans). Nitro is for classy people and Kunos is for people who are classy and have taste.

Kunos feels like warm silk, seriously. It sells itself.

Now, if your gun technique is utter (redacted word), I can help you out there. Just ask and I can give you some pro tips, but there is heaps online/vids about spraying - especially cars. Same thing. Same principles. Well, cars are harder as nothing is flat....

If you want a zero dollar learning tool, use dark food colour/dye in warm water and spray it onto cardboard from the recycling centre. If you get lines, your fan isnt right, or your technique is bad, you see this as bands and crappy overlaps and runs and visually look (redacted word)..... Dye--> Cardboard--> Outdoor fun!

Get it perfect on that and your project will look amazing.

Originally Posted by DaveVman

I unintentionally pulverized the flakes a little to get them through the little funnel I used.

I had thought it might be able to be sprayed so I'm happy to have that confirmed.

-- Dissolve your shellac in a jar. Shake it often. A pickled onion jar is my preference. You could use a gherkin jar if thats whats left over. But I can't see myself eating a jar of gherkins in an afternoon... but pickles... dead easy! Mmmm. Pickles.
-- If you put anything in your gun, run it through a fine sieve first! They are $4 for 5 at supercheapauto: Velocity Paper Paint Strainers - 5 Pack - Supercheap Auto
-- If you don't sieve your chunks out, they are going to spew all over your nice flat work in chunks. Just as pretty as the result of a heavy night out with the lads. Plus the gun will clag like a bastard if you don't

Nothing wrong with smashing up your shellac flakes to dissolve them faster.

Originally Posted by DaveVman

How much time should I give between coats and should I give it a light sand with 600 wet n dry between coats?

If your shellac is freshly made, and you're not applying too much to the surface in one go, each coat should dry off in a few minutes. The first coats will dry almost instantly. As the layers get built up it'll take a little longer. If the shellac isn't dry after an hour it probably means your batch is too old. Do a light sand after the first coat with >= 240 grit, you don't need to sand between coats. The next coat will dissolve the previous coat. Once you have the desired sheen and the shellac is dry, rub a cloth dipped in meths lightly over the surface, this is to level out the finish and get it flat. And don't be tempted to go back ever go back over a wet area, that's a recipe for sadness.

Thanks for the great suggestions. My spray technique is not to bad. I'm spraying the entire interior of the house with an airless sprayer room by room. Very gradually doing the entire house when I get nagged too much about it. Only 2 rooms left to finish.
Plus i sprayed both sides off all the kitchen cupboards and drawers with the air compressor spray gun.
So I've had enough practice with technique.
Now I just need to master clear finishes on smaller objects.

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