That time a shellac finish went cloudy on me in a damp Chicago garage

I was finishing a maple dresser about five years ago, right as a cold front rolled in. I brushed on a fresh coat of shellac and within an hour the whole surface turned milky white. The humidity must have spiked to 80% in that unheated space. I panicked, thinking I'd have to strip it all back. Instead, I gently warmed the surface with a hair dryer on low, moving it constantly about six inches away. The cloudiness faded as the moisture evaporated out of the finish. Ever since, I keep a cheap humidity gauge on my bench. What's your go-to fix for a blush in a finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

blair6269d agoMost Upvoted

Hair dryer trick is a lifesaver... I've done the exact same thing. That milky panic is real.

taylorhunt9d ago

Yeah, that milky panic is the worst. @blair626 is right about the hair dryer, I've also had luck with a light rub of mineral spirits on a rag.