Thanks Thanks:  0
Likes Likes:  0
Needs Pictures Needs Pictures:  0
Picture(s) thanks Picture(s) thanks:  0
Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Unhappy Need help: Shellac over wood stain

    Hi All
    I'm hoping that somebody on the forum here can help me out with this frustrating problem...

    I'm doing up an old valve radio cabinet, and bought myself a tin of Wattyl wood stain (Jarrah). Having stained the cabinet with 3 or 4 coats, I was pretty pleased with the result.

    Next I applied a coat of shellac. That's when the problems started!!

    As soon as the shellac went on, some of the stain started to run and patches and blotches started to appear. Trying to patch it up with more shellac made the problem worse, and the wood stain started to thin out in places.

    I stripped the whole cabinet and started again, this time applying the shellac very carefully (using a brush this time) but the same thing happened, with streaks where the shellac overlapped.

    I've tried this 3 times now and have had no success at all. I really don't want to end up putting polyurethane on the cabinet, and much prefer the shellac.

    Any help around this dilemma will be MUCH appreciated!!! Thanks!

    Dave

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Garvoc VIC AUSTRALIA
    Posts
    11,464

    Default

    the stain is not compatible with the metho in the shellac so you need another stain with a different solvent base. As you are happy with this stain color another way around the problem is to apply a clear aerosol poly over the stain as a sealer. let it dry thoroughly then apply the shellac finish over the poly.
    Regards, Bob Thomas

    www.wombatsawmill.com

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thanks Bob for the suggestions

    The problem is that the stain I'm using is spirit based, so the metho in the shellac just removes the stain as soon as it is applied. I'd rather not use the spray-on poly, so it looks like I'm going to have to look for a stain that is not spirit based.

    Dave

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    5,773

    Default

    firstly there are other alternatives to poly.

    precatalised lacer is probably the most popular in industry.

    or change to a water bassed stain.

    better still buy a coppy of the polishers hand book before proceding any further. you will bless the day you did.

    head for www.ubeaut.com.au the parent site of this forum.

    they have all sorts of good stuff including the polishers handbbok.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2000
    Location
    Geelong South
    Age
    74
    Posts
    507

    Default

    Use a turpentine based stain or a water stain (dye) neither of these are compatable with the shellac and because of this will not be pulled off when the shellac is applied.

    Wattyl colourwood is fine or get some Feast Watson's Black japan and thin it with turps then add some red universal tint (the stuff thewy use to tint paint with) until you get the desired colour.

    Cheers - Neil

    PS the colourwood is probably the easiest alternative.
    56 Rock n Roll rebel....... Too old to die young and too young to be an old fart. Guess I'll just keep on rockin and refuse grow old gracefully.


    Are you a registered member? Why not? click here to register. It's free and only takes 37 seconds!

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Oxley, Brisbane
    Age
    79
    Posts
    3,041

    Default

    Or you could use a Tung oil finish. This gives similar results to Shellac. Perhaps not quite as deep a finish as shellac but very nice anyway and very easy to apply.
    Bob Willson
    The term 'grammar nazi' was invented to make people, who don't know their grammar, feel OK about being uneducated.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    3

    Default

    Thanks guys for all the suggestions!

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •