Shellac is a traditional finish that has been used by woodworkers for centuries and till today remains one of the best wood finishes. It provides water & scratches resistance, acid resistance, and withstand boiling hot water temperature.
Shellac uses ethyl alcohol as a solvent for the natural resin secreted by Lac bugs on trees in India and Thailand.
unlike polyurethane, laquer, and most other commercial finishes, shellac is 100% natural.
Shellac has been widely used in food preservation and pharmaceutical uses. We consume shellac on a daily basis indirectly through hard candy, chocolate, medicine and vitamins pills even Donuts.
Why not so famous ?
Shellac finish is time-consuming, need some skill and costs much more than chemical finishes.
Shellac is an approved food additive (E904) according to Annex IV of the EC Directive 95/2/EC.
Shellac is recognized as safe in the FDA “Inactive Ingredients Guide”.
