Nothing Feels Like Shellac

[Patrick Olguin]

Wooddorking Mavens,

It's been a little while since I've posted anything of substance (some might say they're still awaiting such an event), but I finally got around to polishing-out the shellac finish on this cherry mantelshelf I've been working on (previous pictures here -

). As an experienced (not necessarily talented or good) wooddorker, I'd made the plank over-long and before final finishing I cut off and squared-up the ends. No drama. One off-cut was about 1' long, and so also being the dutiful and conservative finisher, I executed the remainder of the finishing schedule on that chunk (about 1' square).

Oh Lordy Lordy. Less than a minute of wet sanding with mineral oil (too thick, generally, but I was being conservative) and 400, then 600 grit; then polishing with FFF pumice and it felt done. Cleaned it all up with turpentine, dried it off and ran my hand over it. Oh Mama! Satin and silk cry in shame when one tries to compare that texture to a hand rubbed shellac surface. After I wiped all the oil and turps off, I brought it inside to show the missus (SWIATAAABOC, Tom).

"Touch it, hon." She ran a tentative finger over shellacked cherry 'scrap' then pulled away. "Is it dry?" I said, "It's been dry for two months, babe. Try it again." This time she lingered over the freshly finished-out cherry. "Wow, it feels... it feels like... lemme feel that again." More incredulous touching. "I love the grain. It's... wow."

My sentiments exactly. Pictures forthcoming.

If there's any hobby more satisfying than turning a dull, dirty piece of potentially beautiful wood into something that puts polished marble to shame, I haven't found it yet. Some people have worry stones, others have mood rings or some other talisman to help influence things. I think the next time I make some dumbass mistake in the shop, I'll just run my hand over this little test piece to remind myself just how good it is if you can suffer the small stuff.

No offense to you lacquer-sniffers out there, but there's just no comparison ;0).

Humbly submitted, O'Deen

[J G]

"Patrick Olguin" wrote

I'll hoist a pint to THAT!

Hey O'Deen, where you been hiding? I tried calling you the other day to order some shellac but some chick answered instead of you. (Still ordered it though ;-)

[Tom Watson]

I was thinkin' more of controlled vs. uncontrolled - then again, there's just plain trolled - mebbe not.

Eminently bonerific, O'Deen.

Tom doffs seed cap and looks to the high North, "Ya done learnt the boy good, Paully."

Shazzam! Didya dig into the supply from the nightstand?

Ayup, and goes just fine with Salsa, I'm guessing.

Now come on, O'Deener - we just got the place cleaned up.

Pix are cool but ya should send us all samples for us to get the full Monty.

Yup. I try to keep a couple of the winners around to get me through the losing times.

hey...HEY! Ah well, it's true enough, I guess.

(watson - who's selling his spray rig and using the money to buy badger.)

Regards, Tom.

Thomas J.Watson - Cabinetmaker (ret.) tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)