When is shellac really dry????

[Skip C]

I have just finished (I hope) my first project using shellac as the finish. It is a small box made from Mexican Bocote which I originallly thought was tight-grained but after a couple of coats of shellac I realized that I should have used a filler first. I probably have appled 12-15 coeats of blonde shellac that I made from flakes. I have sanded between coats (quite thoroughly after the first 6 coats).

I just finished sanding with 800 grit. There are still some dimples that are not competely filled with shellac but they do not shine anymore so I guess they are close enough to the surface to have been touched by the sandpaper.

How do I proceed from here? I have a satin finish which is what I want. I have been told not to put the piece on furniture for a month or it may leave a shellac stain on the piece it is sitting on. Correct? How long will it take to dry?

Should I wax the piece and when can I do that?

If I can find finer grit sandpaper than 800 should I sand further? Or use pomace or rottenstone? Or just leave it?

Thanks,

Skip

[wardprobst]

Shellac dries pretty fast usually, if it's not tacky, it's dry. I would not worry about setting it on something, particularly after you wax it which you should be able to do now. I'd use a nice paste wax.
If you want finer grit than 800 auto supplies usually carry it but I doubt you need it if satin is what you want.
HTH,
DP

[JimD]

For a satin finish, you should try very fine steel wool and then wax.

Jim