What is the difference between shellac and lacquer

Shellac can be applied with a brush , but it is more commonly applied with a rubbing pad using a technique called French Polishing. The result is a high-gloss finish that enhances the natural grain of any wood. When dry, shellac is highly reflective, resulting in a glossy sheen. Steel wool can be used to scuff the surface of shellac to dull the finish , resulting in a more matte look.

The color of the resin affects the color of the finish. Most shellac is amber, golden, or reddish brown. It can be used on any kind of wood and applied to most surfaces.

Although it dries quickly, mistakes are easy to fix simply by adding another thin coat of shellac. Each coat of shellac dissolves into the one below it, building a smooth and even glossy finish. Best of all, there is no need to sand between layers of shellac. Technically, shellac is a type of lacquer.

The term originally referred to any finish made by combining resin with a solvent and which dries through evaporation. Today, lacquer usually refers to synthetic finishes made from combinations of various polymers and solvents. Nitrocellulose, CAB, urushiol and acrylic resin can all be used to create lacquer. There is also another product called catalyzed lacquer, which relies on chemical additives and cures to a super-hard finish.

Lacquer dries to a hard, clear, and extremely shiny finish. Pigments can be added to change the color of the finish. It is combined with lacquer thinner to produce various concentrations that are used at different parts of the process. The ratio of lacquer to thinner is dependent on the weather and the application method, with a thinner lacquer being used when lacquer is applied with a spray gun , to avoid clogging the nozzle.

Each layer of lacquer adheres to the one below it, making it a difficult and painstaking finish to apply smoothly , as each layer must be perfect before another can be applied. Otherwise, drips and stippling will be carried out into the final coat. Sanding between coats of lacquer and wiping well with a tack cloth is the best way to prepare for an additional coat.

Since shellac is technically a type of lacquer, these two finishes have many things in common. They are formulated in similar ways, can each be revived rather than refinished, and harden via the same process.

Both shellac and lacquer are formulated by dissolving a solid in a solvent. For shellac, the solid and solvent are always the same: sticklac resin and denatured alcohol. Lacquer can be created from different combinations of solid and solvent. The solids used in lacquer could be acrylic resin, nitrocellulose, uruishiol, or cellulose acetate butyrate CAB. A mix of solvents is often used, so lacquer could contain any of the following chemicals; acetone, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, toluene, xylene, and butyl acetate.

Shellac is revived via the application of more shellac, mixed with a generous amount of denatured alcohol. Multiple coats may be needed to fully restore badly damaged shellac, including cracked surfaces. Modern varnishes usually include a drying agent, such as linseed oil, carried in mineral spirits instead of turpentine. They deposit, instead of natural resins, alkyd derived from plants or polyurethane as a finish material.

Modern shellac, on the other hand, is virtually the same material that has been used for centuries. Although you can buy it pre-mixed, it is still available as flakes that you can dissolve yourself, just as it has always been. Because it cures, a varnish coating provides more protection and is more suitable for exterior use, as well as for floors, interior woodwork and heavily used furniture.

Many finishers, however, prefer shellac for fine tabletops, cabinets and antiques. This is because shellac is easier than varnish to apply in thin coats and rub to an elegant sheen.

Shellac is also a versatile product that has many uses besides that as a wood-finishing material. Furniture these days is available in various materials such as wood, teak etc. It is very common to have a top or finish on that material to improve the life of furniture, make it durable and preserve its elegant look. The terms varnish, shellac, lacquer and polyurethane are commonly used to refer to the final finishes we are talking about.

Let us first look at what they exactly are. Shellac is merely a resin that is secreted by the lac bug. It can be processed and then sold as dry flakes. It can then be used as a brush-on colorant and most commonly as wood finish.

Varnish, on the other hand, is a protective finish or film that is very hard and is also used in wood finishing. It is used for the finishing of other materials as well. Traditionally, varnish is prepared by making a combination of a resin, drying oil and a solvent or a thinner.

There is also significant difference in the origin of the two. As mentioned, shellac comes from the secretion of the female laccifera lacca which is rarely found anywhere other than Southeast Asia or India. Initially, it was used as a dye; then for the very first time in , it was used as a finish in India. Insect secretions were collected from tree trunks and were dissolved in alcohol. In contrast to this, varnish was first prepared and used by the Egyptians.

They used tree resin and dissolved it in turpentine, also a solvent that comes from trees. The result was an amber-coloured material that could be used for finishing. It takes time to dry but once hardened, provides reliable protection for a long time. Moving on, a very important difference between the two is that varnish cures as it dries.