Finishing Red Oak

[Terry Sparks]

I'm at the tail end of constructing a 32 X 80 rolling tool/assembly cabinet/outfeed table that is trimmed with Red Oak. Before I start finishing the cabinet, I am wondering if it's needed/recommended to put a seal coat of shellac on the trim to seal up the pours of the Red Oak before applying the top coat?

Thanks

[Steve Schoene]

You might consider using shellac as the final finish as well. It dries quickly and goes on easily, and most important for shop equipment, it repairs easily. Sure it will scratch a bit easier than polyurethane, but most injuries it might see in the shops are the sort of dings it gets when banged by a board, etc. Even polyurethane would be damaged in those circumstances, but be harder to repair. Besides why wait a few days for other top coats to dry. You can get three coats of shellac on and dry in a few hours and the tool cabinet in service this afternoon.