Shellac Over Water Based Polyurethane

Varnish can be used to protect preserve and enhance paint.

Shellac over water based polyurethane. It s good for bookcases desks side tables and picture frames anything that won t be exposed to extremes. Dewaxed shellac is unusual in being compatible with both water and oil based finishes and in fact is sometimes used as an adapter layer between those. Water based poly can have adhesion problems when applied over an oil based stain that s not thoroughly cured. It was originally marketed as a no wax floor finish meaning that it was durable enough to resist scratches without being waxed as was necessary with shellac.

That s why you should always apply a barrier coat of dewaxed shellac to seal oil based stain. Great idea to do a more serious test in the area than i ve done. Nevertheless water based polyurethanes are popular among those who like to do it themselves because they are usually non toxic. Shellac is not too far behind at one hour.

It s what i used when. Through the years polyurethane became the most popular wiped and brushed finish for everything. Most professionals agree that water based varnish is the best product to use over paint. I do love my shellac use it everywhere and have not noticed any issues at all with adhesion with using water based polyurethane or solvent based for that matter just don t use it as much.

This stuff will stick to anything including tile. I m not sure whether that wide compatibility also includes lacquer and catalysed finishes. It also can go over oil based finishes and can be applied using synthetic. Varnish is still the king as no other topcoat has its resistance to both uv rays and the elements.

And polyurethane that contains water will take about two hours to fully dry. As always great. The other primer i recommend is insl x stix bonding primer. It can either be oil based or water based.

This is what i used on the oak sections of my kitchen cabinets. However i avoid oil based or standard versions of polyurethane as it can take upwards of 24 hours to fully dry. Water based polyurethane dry faster so there is a lower chance of bugs and dust getting stuck in it. It requires mineral spirits to clean up so be sure to keep some on hand for any potential spills or drips.

Homer formby began marketing wiping varnish varnish thinned about half with mineral. However it can be difficult to repair when damaged. Oil based polyurethane became available. It also has the ability to resist environmental harshness.

As with shellac water based polyurethane won t hold up well to heat and chemicals. Zinsser b i n primer is a shellac based primer that will stop tannin bleed in its tracks. The instructions on the can will indicate that you can apply a water based clear coat right. It can go over or under either.

After the shellac dries a light scuff sand will leave an excellent surface for the poly to grip.