In the video “Rediscovering Shellac: The Forgotten Wood Finish,” Stumpy Nubs revisits the traditional wood finish, shellac, explaining its benefits and advocating for its use in modern woodworking.
Shellac, once the premier choice for wood finishes, fell out of favor as manufacturers promoted newer products like polyurethane.
However, Stumpy Nubs argues convincingly for the merits of shellac, positioning it as an ideal finish for various woodworking projects due to its ease of application, quick drying times, and excellent repairability.
He explains that shellac is incredibly user-friendly because it can be easily applied with a brush or a cloth and is forgiving enough to allow for correction of mistakes such as runs in subsequent layers.
One of the most appealing features of shellac is its rapid drying capability, which allows multiple coats to be applied in a short period—sometimes within minutes to hours, depending on the project size.
This is in stark contrast to other finishes that may require days.
Additionally, shellac is versatile. It adheres well to nearly any other finish and accepts almost any finish applied over it, provided it’s dewaxed.
This property makes it a fantastic sealer or undercoat before applying other finishes.
Stumpy Nubs also highlights shellac’s environmental friendliness, noting it is a natural product derived from the secretion of the lac beetle and contains no petroleum products, making it a safer choice for both the user and the environment.
Moreover, shellac’s aesthetic qualities are emphasized. It comes in various natural colors, influenced by the tree sap consumed by the lac beetles.
These colors range from light blonde to deep brown, offering woodworkers the ability to enhance the natural beauty of wood or achieve specific color effects.
Throughout the video, Stumpy Nubs provides practical tips on how to handle and apply shellac, making a compelling case for why woodworkers should reconsider this classic but often overlooked finish.
His expert advice is aimed at demystifying shellac and encouraging its reintegration into the modern woodworking toolkit.