Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - shellac and polyurethanes color matching

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.



PDA
morgan 38
08-24-06, 07:48 AM
I am using amber shellac and transtint (redish brown) to finish my wood in a Victorian home. I now want the stair case to match but I don't want to use shellac only. Can I put polyurethane over the shellac or can I use 2 transtints(redish brown and honey amber) to tint the urethane to match. I've had a lot of conflicting info on using transtint in poly or putting poly over shellac. Please help!!

Jan2
08-24-06, 05:34 PM
Shellac is commonly used as a sealer before poly on floors. So, yes you can go right ahead and put poly over shellac. As far as transtints are concerned try Homesteadfinishing.com.
custom1
09-08-06, 03:58 PM
The one thing I would add to the previous post is to make sure to use a wax free shellac, usualy sold as a sealer. For example use zinsser sealcoat, not bullseye, in which the poly will have a hard time bonding to due to the wax, which is in a shellac meant for a final finish. The wax helps prevent the whitening efffect of water (like from a beverage set down)on unprotected shellac.