Lack of Shellac

I love shellac! Did you know it comes from lac bugs? Yes, Bugs. Just goo they create though--not the actual bug. And it makes a wonderful coating for wood and other surfaces. It even smells kind of nice (even though you  shouldn't breath the vapors).  I don't know why it's so overshadowed all the poly and urethane stuff on the shelves.  I use it a lot...
Last weekend I used it on wood chairs and a cast metal floor lamp. At work I used it mixed with pigment to match the color and sheen of an 18th century Chinese lacquered sewing table. It's versatile and easy to work with in most cases. It dries really fast--great for someone like me who wants to get right on with the next step or just be finished.
If you have trouble with brush marks, it can be thinned and smoothed with denatured alcohol or 190 proof spirits...
If you use spirits, you won't have to worry so much when you accidentally take a swig from your brush jar instead of your cocktail. Or it can be smoothed with fine steel wool. You can also use the steel wool if you don't want the high gloss. Then wax over it to get an even, soft, silky sheen.
Pigment such as Mixol can be added to shellac. Mixol is more wonderful stuff--liquid pigments in convenient little bottles that will come in handy for other projects as well.
But- back to shellac- this is were shellac can be tricky. Once you add pigment, and especially if you have a lot of surface to cover, you'll have to be fast and smooth with your nice soft bristle brush or you will have an uneven finish to fight with. Great for small areas like picture frames or furniture that has lots of divided parts like chairs . I think the only Real fault I can find with shellac is that it's only for the great indoors.

One last note--If you have kids dragging hard toys across your furniture, you're better off with polyurethane.

 Buy Shellac, Mixol, Soft Bush