More Questions on Handrails
Some brownstoners kindly provided me with information about finishing handrails a few days ago. I have decided to experiment with shellac. My question is, is it preferable to shellac (one poster said 2 coats of shellac – 1 amber and one clear is best) and then varnish or is it sufficient to simply shellac? What…
Some brownstoners kindly provided me with information about finishing handrails a few days ago. I have decided to experiment with shellac. My question is, is it preferable to shellac (one poster said 2 coats of shellac – 1 amber and one clear is best) and then varnish or is it sufficient to simply shellac? What is best? I am looking for a soft finish which does not significantly darken wood and which provides a very soft finish and which is durable.
Any information is greatly appreciated.
Sorry to take so long in replying — blame my 7 grandchildren (ha-ha) Ken Corey, 718-499-5698 or KCorey616@aol.com
Ken, I am the original poster. Can you give me your email address or telephone number. Thanks – Donatella.
The reason I suggested varnishing over the shellac is to make the finish more durable. Shellac is not water resistant, that is, if the wood gets wet (wet gloves, hands, etc.), the finish will get white, or cloudy. Varnish (I prefer “Spar” varnish…or Marine varnish) gives a durable finish, but not “plasticky” like polyurethane.
A shellac finish that was put on the woodwork and floors of brownstones years ago only changed colors first, because they had a dark color (stain) over-coated on the shellac…usually many years after the house was built. Second, USUALLY most brownstones were converted to rooming-houses or multi-dwelling homes. In order to “modernize” the homes, the owners would paint the woodwork, and sometimes even the floors.
I have shellaced and varnished a lot of the woodwork in my home starting about 15 years ago, and the color has not changed at all.
Call me and I’ll be glad to speak with you about this. Oh, I’m retired, so I’m not looking to do any work…but I” be happy to speak with you.
Try doing just the shellac first, and consider doing more than two coats. It doesn’t darken that much.
Then wait and see. If after a few weeks, you think you need the durability of varnish, you can add it.
Also, you can always add add’l coats of shellac in the future–one of its best features.
I shellaced a whole dining room table and chairs–a French Polish–put 7-8 coats of shellac on, with occasional very fine sanding with fine steel wool in between. I only varnished the tabletop for durability. All is holding up beautifully.
Shellac is an original finish to your house and that’s why over time it gets dark, very dark. If you have ever seen untouched original woodwork in a brownstone it gets nearly black and you lose the detail of the wood itself. I’m pretty sure that’s why some many houses ended up with painted woodwork. People just didn’t think about removing an old shellac finish so it was easy for them to simply paint. Anyway, I like the look of shellac with varnish and I would imagine it will not change in color much during your time living in the house.