My stain runs when I apply shellac

Hi guys,

I am restoring an old Queensland maple wardrobe. After removing the old shellac finish I applied a Wattyl Traditional stain diluted with some turps. I allowed the stain to dry and began brushing on my first coat of shellac...which cause all my stain to run!!

I have read on another thread that it's better to use water based stains before you apply shellac. Is this correct?

What should I do now that I have already applied the spirit based stain?

Any tips you guys can give regarding staining before applying shellac would be really appreciated.

I have attached a picture of the piece I am working on (taken while removing the old shellac finish).

Cheers

Dan

You have used the wrong solvent to reduce the stain. Turps is not the correct product. by using turps you have slowed the drying time and prevented the spirit stain from drying properly. the metho in the shellac has then been able to redissolve the stain.

I don't have any of the stain on hand at the moment to check the label but there shouldn't have been any need to add any thinner at all, it dries fast (the advantage of spirit stain) once dried it can be coated with all finishes.

Dan,

If you are using shellac as your finish coat then why not consider mixing a wood dye, such as Feast Watson straight into the shellac? Wood dyes do not obscure the grain and produce a very even stain. The other point is why did you want to remove the original shellac? Unlike most other finishes, shellac can be renovated with the original solvent which is meths.

Jerry

Dan

the meths in the shellac has remobilised the stain

according to my finishing books, the "fix" is to allow the stain to dry for much longer, say 4 days.
Another option is to spray the first coat of shellac



ian