Polyurethane vs Lacquer vs Shellac: Pick Your Wood Finish

Polyurethane, lacquer, and shellac are popular wood finishes. We walk you through each product, and how to choose which finisher is best for your woodworking project.
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How to Use Polycrylic: sawshub.com/how-to-apply-poly...
How to Use Lacquer: sawshub.com/how-to-lacquer-wood/
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Related Videos and Tutorials:
Polyurethane vs Lacquer: • Polyurethane vs Lacque...
Polyurethane vs Polycrylic: • Polyurethane vs Polyac...
Polycrylic vs Lacquer: • Polycrylic vs Lacquer:...
Lacquer is widely known for its ease of application and short drying time. It’s the most used wood finish commercially. Its primary component is the resin of varnish trees. After harvesting and refining, the resin is mixed with thinner to create lacquer.
Lacquer:
* It’s compatible with various solvents.
* It doesn’t show yellowing over time.
* It’s relatively affordable.
* It looks sleek after application.
* It has low resistance to chemicals.
* You have to apply it again year after year.
* If it gets contaminated, defects will appear on the wood.
* If the room’s temperature is too warm, bubbles will appear.
* It’s harmful to the environment.
Polyurethane is a​ sealant that provides exceptional durability on wood surfaces, and is available as both a water-based sealant and an oil-based sealant. Polyurethane is much more durable than polycrylic - some label it as “liquid plastic” while its still in the tub, because when it dries it will turn as hard as plastic.
Polyurethane:
​
* Water-based or oil-based
​* Slow drying
​* Matte, satin, glossy, and high gloss finish
​* Very strong sealant
* Provides a shiny look when dry
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in forests. It is processed and sold as dry flakes, getting dissolved in denatured alcohol to make a wood finish.

[@xander7462]

Holy poo! He did an intro and then aged 30 years, crazy!

[@privateperson7523]

Wasn't looking for history just a comparison

[@christophershipman2843]

I'm 48 years old and just now learning that shellac is made out of secretions from a type of insect, and it takes 1.5 million of them to produce a pound of it. Then reading through all the comments there is even more information on these finishes. Really enjoyed the video. Thank you for your time and consideration in freely giving information learned over a lifetime.

[@adamcoe]

Shellac is much, much older than that. Folks have been rubbing shellac on wood for at least 1,000 years and likely much longer than that.

[@rickterrance4981]

I always always coat a piece in at least 2 coats of BLO or tung oil first and let it cure before topcoating with a more durable finish. Yes it takes a bit of time to properly cure but doing so adds chatoyance and pops the grain in a way other finishes just dont. Then by topcoating with something stronger later you get the added protection of a modern lacquer polyurethane etc..

[@litahsr.8226]

THANK YOU Polyurethane feels more safe just want my desk shinny

[@alext8828]

We did my friend's car with brushes and it came out fine. You could see your face thru the distortion.

[@TheGregWallace]

Comment.....You can put lacquer on by using a 50/50 mix of lacquer and mineral spirits and wipe it on and you get a good finish. The only thing that I do not like about lacquer is that the oils in your skin cause it to break down so it is not good for a table top where your would be resting your arms.

[@jjjjude]

Very informative. Thanks. Question i need to prepare a birch plywood surface. Should i use Shellac or two part epoxy for sealing the wood then put 4 coats of poly?? Or should i put oil based poly directly and sand after each coat thanks??? The size i need to cover is only 2 feet by 2 feet square. Thanks looking forward to your valued reply.

[@Daisy.florina]

why is my not mixing is all at the bottom of the jar and stuck together

[@NazVick]

Thank you so much for sharing the history, the advantages and disadvantages of each finish and the tips you provided. This is such a valuable and an enjoyable post all in one.

[@theHAL9000]

Very comprehensive overview. This is the go-to channel for acquiring an understanding of wood finishes.

[@macaronipictures2]

Thanks for sharing this. I've been kicking around the different finishes and this was very helpful.

[@kennethkendrick4795]

Excellent tutorial. I've always contemplated the differences and advantages of these three sealers. Most informative. Thank you!

[@eseelert]

Great video! Just the info I was looking for. I’m rehabbing my chicken coop/run and wanted to pick the best finish/know the differences between options. Thanks a bunch!

[@user-cb6ed2es8s]

Perfect video! Ive learned everything i needed! Thank you

[@tswitz65]

I'm loving all of your videos and am learning a lot as a novice. Thanks and I hope you keep this a going concern!

[@mdkram]

This video is just what I was looking for. Thanks!

[@joebyron9]

wow great explanation, helped me decide on what i wanted to buy

[@aminday2010]

Wow! what an informative video... this is exactly what I was looking for, thanks a ton sir, subscribed!