Had to decide between shellac and lacquer for a dining table job last month

A customer in Portland wanted a high-gloss finish that could handle hot plates and kids, so I had to pick between shellac and pre-cat lacquer. I went with the lacquer because it's tougher, but the fumes were brutal in their basement. Has anyone else been burned by a finish choice that seemed like the right call on paper?

2 comments

2 Comments

hannah_wright5d ago

I remember working with shellac once on a desk job in Seattle and a hot coffee cup left a white ring right through the finish. Customer was not happy. I get why you went with pre-cat lacquer for a dining table that sees kids and hot plates. The fumes are nasty though, especially in a basement with no airflow. I've tried water based lacquers for that reason but they don't lay down as smooth. Sometimes the tough choice just comes with a trade off you can't avoid.

hernandez.morgan5d ago

God, the coffee ring thing is the WORST. I had a similar disaster refinishing an antique buffet for my mom and set a glass of iced tea down on it without a coaster. Left a perfect white ghost ring right in the middle. I was so mad at myself. The fumes thing though, totally agree. I tried spraying pre-cat in my garage once with just a box fan and ended up with a headache for two days. Water based is safer but man, you're right about it not laying down smooth. I've had water based lacquer fisheye on me and leave these weird little craters that you can't sand out. It's always a tradeoff between the finish looking perfect and not poisoning yourself. Sometimes you just gotta pick your poison.