Shellac: Reasons why a primer makes sense

The starting material for shellac are natural substances, which are excreted by a particular louse species. This is why shellac is particularly suitable for the gentle treatment of solid wood furniture. However, since the lacquer dries very quickly, it can only penetrate very little into the wood. Furthermore, in case of some wood types, shellac solves certain ingredients, which can lead to surface defects. Therefore it is recommended to prime the wood with an oil as the oil penetrates more deeply into the wood than shellac. At the same time it emphasizes the wood grain.

1. Preparation and priming of wooden furniture

First, the wood should be sanded stepwise up to a grain size of 240. The ARDVOS-Universal-wood-oil N° 266 and the DARIX-Transparent Furniture stain N° 297 are suitable for the subsequent primer. The primer should ideally have 24 hours to fully dry. After that, an intermediate grinding with a grain size of 400 is carried out.

Important: Before applying the shellac, make sure that the surface of the solid wood furniture is free of dust.

2. Coating with shellac

Shellac can be applied to the solid wood furniture with a brush, a cotton cloth or a sponge. Important is an even distribution and the rapid removal of excess paint. The coating should be about 25-40 g/m².

Alternatively, you can apply the shellac by spraying. For optimal results, the processing should take place at a minimum room temperature of 18 °C and an air humidity of less than 65%. Important for a beautiful surface of the wooden furniture is also the correct dilution of the shellac.

The LIVOS recommendations:

• LANDIS-Shellac N° 701: 30 to 40% KIROS-Thinner N° 710
• BELOS-Shellac N° 706: 30 to 40% KIROS
• TREBO-Shellac N° 709: 40% KIROS
• Nozzle size: 1.4-1.7 mm, pressure: 3-3.5 bar

Mistakes to avoid during spraying

When painting with the spray gun, the distance to the wood furniture is ideally 15 to 20 cm. If the distance is too large, the coating can become rough and dull. This happens when the shellac droplets lose solvent on the way to the wood. In most cases it is sufficient to re-paint the furniture from a distance of max. 20 cm without prior sanding.

Expert advice from the LIVOS team

One layer of shellac is generally enough to effectively protect your furniture. As soon as the lacquer is dried, the furniture can be used as usual.

If you have any questions concerning the use of shellac or the maintenance of wooden furniture, we would be pleased to advise you. The LIVOS experts are at your disposal by telephone or by e-mail.