Least smelly finish

If the look is truly Obviously not important, don't use a finish at all.

I've had very good luck with shellac. Seems to dissipate rapidly and makes a good seal and it easy to keep clean.

Another vote for shellac. Very fast drying, no lingering odor, and if your'e restoring, it's also a good barrier coat to seal funky-smelling old drawers

Shellac.

charlie b

The least smelly is probably not the best for drawer interiors. But to answer your question, wax is probably the least smelly of all.

For interior of drawers I recommend a spit coat of clear shellac.

Nothing says they have to have a finish. Personally, I oil them...with oil to which I have added some oil of wintergreen. I like the odor, reminds me of the trombone slide oil I used to make. It had wintergreen in it too.

While shellac is a real good choice it would be my second choice to clear water based acrylic.

We use both extensivly in our vintage travel trailer restoration shop. Amber shelac for color and depth and water based acrylic for a tough top coat. Solvent based finishes will be phased out in most of our life times so you might as well find a water based finish you like.

AZCRAIG

I suspect that ecosteria will be phased out before that happens.

"Diamond Finish" would be great. It was originally made by Varathane, but Varathane was bought by Rustoleum. It is still called Diamond Finish. I apply it with a flat short haired applicator. Sand the first coat and apply a second. It lays down like a spray finish and is water based and nearly odorless.

Chuck

If that's the case, we'll have to leave everything unfinished. Water is a solvent.

Yup....Water is a solvent, but in the finishing business they are considered either water based/borne or Solvent based.

AZCRAIG