Thread: Shellac and french Polishing -- what is the difference?

I think I understand your question.

Firstly - No the shellac won't crack with normal use. However, if you dance on it with your hobb-nail boots it isn't going to like it very much.

The shellac and wax finish is basically a quick finish that is easy to do and which gives (i believe) a nicer alternative to polyurethane. It is also an alternative to oiling and won't attract dirt and dust like some of the oiled finishes. You could call the shellac and wax finish a lazy mans french polish.

The option of applying the weak shellac as a sanding sealer then waxing over the top is basically a better way to do a full blown wax finish for the person who just wants wax and nothing else. The sanding sealer is there to raise the grain and make it go hard so it can be easily sanded off to a silky smooth base for the wax. It also helps the wax get a slightly faster build on the timber.

If you use shellac as a sealer there is nothing there to crack it's pretty well all in the timber not on the timber. Your sealer is about 85% ethanol, it soaks deep into the timber leaving virtually nothing on the surface, and what little there is on the surface is taken off with your final sanding prior to applying the wax.

Hope this answers your question

Cheers - Neil