Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Douglas Fir and amber shellac

for very experienced wood finishers......
I built a 6 raise panel door with Doug fir and cedar for the panels. I am not sure I will ever do it again but whatever...
I was going to finish with either several coats of amber shellac
or 2 coats of oil based poly satin.....just because thats what I have aside from cookin oil. That would be a bit cheesy.
What do you think..???? which would be best.???

You didn't mention whether the door is an entrance or or interior - but it really doesn't make any difference.

If you're after the color of amber shellac, I'd stain first, and then top coat with poly. Oil base poly will change the color slightly, no matter whether you use shellac or stain. For that reason I'd suggest The exterior acrylic poly - it's 'water clear' (doesn't change the underlying color). Check the label on the poly to see if it mentions (pro or con) shellac as a base coat. If you're OK with colro change, oil base will be fine. Check it out on some scraps.

Back in the 1950's & 60's, amber shellac was used a lot on pine paneling and cabinets. Usually (not always) it was topcoated with a varnish (not poly) for protection.

I would NOT use shellac as a top coat.

As mentioned, you cannot go over shellac with poly, just varnish, and you cannot leave shellac as a final coat. And finishing wood is at least a three coat job. So if you like the amber glow of shellac, you'll have to buy a quart of varnish. Shellac is a great sealer because it dries fast and doesn't give the grain a chance to raise, thus making sanding easier. So a coat of shellac, sand, a second coat of shellac, sand, and then a coat of varnish. If you go poly, thin the first coat about 25% with thinner, sand, apply a second coat full strength, sand, and then apply your finish poly coat.

Good Luck,

Bill

I can see that amber shellac is going to be too orange after 2 coats.
I guess I am going to go 2 coats oil based satin Poly. Why cant you put poly over shellac??? and what is Varnish exactly..???

You can put some poly over shellac - that's why I mentioned reading the label on the poly FIRST. The ability to use poly over shellac will vary from brand to brand.

Polyurethane is the 'new' varnish - different formulation and more durable than standard varnish.

Shellac can be used under standard (old type) varnish regardless of brand.

The "poly" means many or multiples of. Hence a polyurethane is a product with more than one urethane base.

Varnish has only one.