With my kitchen remodel close to being done (just some trim pieces and flooring to fix up) its time to get back to the end tables. Been too long.
With the tables all assembled and ready, it was time to start the finishing process. I like to start with a “sealer coat” of 50% Clear, unwaxed shellac and 50% denatured alcohol. This seals the wood and limits wood movement, and just about anything sticks to this. I can put paint, polyurethane, or other finishes on top – and it will adhere to the unwaxed shellac with no problem.
The only time I might not start with this is if I am staining the piece, prior to the final finish. Even then, a sealer coat will help even out the stain on some woods, so it might be a good place to start.
For the table tops, I’ll keep the sealer coat, but then apply several coats of water-based Polyurethane on top, as they will end up getting water & coffee/tea stains on them in the years ahead, and plain shellac doesn’t hold up to that kind of abuse.
For the body of the table, I’ll put another two coats of clear shellac on to further season the wood. I really like how the clear shellac helps bring out the natural beauty of the wood, and the look is fantastic.
Kevin