Thread: Advice for a rookie?

I do not know a lot about finishing. Up until now, I have never produced anything that was not made of Radiata Pine and finished with Wattyl Estapol.

My latest project is a clock case for an old mantle clock mechanism that I managed to get working. Again, my "Timber of Budget" (as opposed to "Timber of CHOICE") has been Radiata pine (The best that Bunnings could sell!) I have lashed out and bought a small tub of Shellac flakes and some Spirit based Wallnut stain in an attempt to break away from the Good ol' Estapol.

Now, where do I start?

Should I stain the wood then apply a sealing coat of thinned down shellac, or should I seal the wood and then sand it before staining it?
Would I get a less mottlie finish if I added the stain to the shellac mixture and applied them both together? (seeing as they are both spirit based?

I gather that the idea is to apply several coats of shellac with a brush, then and lightly sand it, and then finish with several coats applied with a rag. Is this right? (I've never done the rag thing, so am a little nervous about that!) Then polish with wax? Is that the idea?

Am I really going down the right path here, or should I have just stuck with Estapol, which I know?

Any advice or tips will be appreciated.

Walesey