Demilune table - finishing

[jarhead]

It took me long enough, but I am coming down the stretch with my first piece of furniture. All that is left to do is glue the legs and put on a finish. I have decided to use Zinsser's SealCoat shellac as the finish. Prior to applying the shellac, I may put on a coat of BLO to "pop" the grain. Since I do not own a spray gun, I will have to either brush or pad it. Here come the questions...

What is easier for a begginer - brushing or padding?
Is padding only used for tabletops?
What finishing method do I use on the tapered legs?

[WayneJ]

I'm no expert, but I would think brushing to be the way to go.Shellac tends to dry very fast . If you were to pad it on you would have to thin it out, which would make it dry faster. If you brush it on and rub it out between coats with 0000 steelwool, you should get a nice finish.I mostly go with poly and rub it on, just my choice.Thats a nice looking table. Is it the one from Wood mag about a year ago? See what the others say about the finish.

Wayne

[jarhead]

Thats a nice looking table. Is it the one from Wood mag about a year ago?

Wayne,
Thanks... I followed David Marks' plans.

[drumpriest]

If you are following David's plan, why arn't you using Arm-R-Seal? ;-)

[Pappy]

I refinish plane knobs and totes with 4-4 coats of Bulls Eye 3# shellac cut to 1 1/2# with alcohol. I wipe it on with bob made from a lint free rag. You have to work fast but the results are great.