Shellac: A Challenging Finish

This traditional finish can be tricky to apply.

- Bob Flexner & Logan Wittmer

There are a lot of shellacs from which to choose. In liquid form there is (from left) clear shellac with the wax removed, clear with wax, and amber with wax. In flake form you can choose shellac (from left) superblonde, lemon yellow, orange, garnet, and extra dark.

If you have read much in the woodworking press, you've surely encountered many articles, including mine, in which the writer uses and recommends shellac as a finish. This may persuade you to try shellac.

I certainly don't want to discourage you because shellac is a great finish with a great history. But you need to be aware that shellac is a relatively difficult finish to use. The writers recommending shellac are usually advanced woodworkers who have learned to overcome the difficulties. By pointing out some of the problems, I hope to increase your likelihood of success.

Before you even get started, you have to overcome the confusion of shellac names and the large variety of shellacs available in flake form.

Bob Flexner's Contributions

The staff at Popular Woodworking received the news of Bob Flexner's passing in December 2024 with heavy hearts. Bob was renowned for his expertise in wood finishing, and his contributions have significantly transformed our approach to woodworking. His landmark book, "Understanding Wood Finishing", has sold over 750,000 copies and been translated into multiple languages, effectively debunking many myths perpetuated by the finishing industry. Remarkably, it remains the only woodworking book to ever reach the Amazon top 1,000 list. Bob Flexner's legacy in the craft and the woodworking community will be remembered for many years to come.