Doug Hobkirk
02-03-2010, 6:31 PM
I have a chair (Hitchcock, I believe) with typical wear and scratches. I would like to diminish the scratches. I believe it is covered with shellac, because when I soak and rub an area with a paper towel soaked in denatured alcohol, that area appears to have some of the finish removed. The first picture of the end of the arm is after a couple minutes work, the next picture is after I attacked it several more times with DNA.
Wow! If it takes that much work to make a dent in shellac removal, why is the big rap against shellac that "alcohol dissolves it"?
Is there a better way to remove shellac than letting a rag soaked in DNA to rest on the surface for 10-15 minutes and then rubbing it off with the rag? And then doing it again and again?
Can I eliminate removing the shellac where there are minor scratches by just wiping on fresh shellac and it will "melt" into the old shellac? I use Zinser dewaxed shellac.
I touch up tiny bare spots with a black Sharpie marker and immediately wipe the area with a rag with some mild cleaner.
Any suggestions on "wiping on" some black over significant bare patches, like the top of the back rail, after I remove the shellac from the area? If it was a wood finish I would just wipe on a similar stain (Minwax or Masters Gel) or dye (TransTint) - it usually works pretty well. Could I use ebony stain?
After I've done my touching-up, should I wipe the whole chair with fresh shellac?
It is truly remarkable that the more I learn about finishing the more I realize I don't know. The depth of knowledge by the responders in this forum is also truly remarkable. Thank you.
Wow! If it takes that much work to make a dent in shellac removal, why is the big rap against shellac that "alcohol dissolves it"?
Is there a better way to remove shellac than letting a rag soaked in DNA to rest on the surface for 10-15 minutes and then rubbing it off with the rag? And then doing it again and again?
Can I eliminate removing the shellac where there are minor scratches by just wiping on fresh shellac and it will "melt" into the old shellac? I use Zinser dewaxed shellac.
I touch up tiny bare spots with a black Sharpie marker and immediately wipe the area with a rag with some mild cleaner.
Any suggestions on "wiping on" some black over significant bare patches, like the top of the back rail, after I remove the shellac from the area? If it was a wood finish I would just wipe on a similar stain (Minwax or Masters Gel) or dye (TransTint) - it usually works pretty well. Could I use ebony stain?
After I've done my touching-up, should I wipe the whole chair with fresh shellac?
It is truly remarkable that the more I learn about finishing the more I realize I don't know. The depth of knowledge by the responders in this forum is also truly remarkable. Thank you.