Shellac does correct itself, provided you don’t back-brush your work. After the first coat, sand only if you need to smooth the surface or to correct mistakes. After three or four coats you should have adequate film thickness to rub out with 600-grit sandpaper or 0000 steel wool.

How many coats of shellac should I use?

For most of my work I stick to clear shellac. Three to four coats is generally enough to give the work a fully protective coat. The first coat seals the wood and the second gives it enough body to sand, level and recoat without cutting through these base coats.

Is shellac a durable finish?

Shellac is a natural product. It is made from the dried secretions of the female Lac beetle. … Shellac is very beautiful and forms a reasonably durable finish that can be high gloss in nature.