Depth of Sheen from Shellac

[Mark A Johnson]

I am working on cabinet and spraying shellac as a finish. After wet sanding and rubbing out the finish, it just doesn't have much depth to it. Its has a nice shine to it, and is absolutely flat no orange peel or scratches.

So how can I get more depth from the finish.

[Scott Holmes]

A bit more info on the shellac you applied and your project would help.
Cut? type of shellac? type of wood? how much you sanded? etc.

[glenn bradley]

If your film is nice and even, that's about it. Shellac is generally a thin film finish and not built up like a varnish. I have done 4 or 5 coats on some small pieces but it can get a bit hairy as each coat liquefies the film beneath.

For a depth of appearance I will use an oil on well figured woods or a dark-then-light dye approach before applying the shellac. I know this doesn't help you now that you've sprayed. One nice thing about shellac is you can take it off with DNA soaked rags or paper towels; just keep switching to new rags as you go.

An oil applied after shellac (even if you DNA it off as best you can) will soak in less than it will on bare wood but, you may get what you are after. I would try it on a scrap and see how it looks.

Brown mahogany dye and shellac on mahogany. (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=134141&d=1259775357)

BLO and shellac on shedua and ash. (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=122089&d=1246462197)

BLO and shellac on walnut and BE maple. (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=134282&d=1259896425)