What is the difference between lacquer and shellac?
Lacquer is a man-made finish, which was developed after WWI. Lacquer is usually applied by spray gun. Lacquer is widely used on all new furniture since the 1940’s. Lacquer is also widely used in most refinishing shops today. Shellac is an organic, natural finish created by the lac bug found in Indo-China in places like the country of India. Removing it from trees where the lac bug nests, dissolved and purified to different levels depending on its end use. Shellac is more flexible than lacquer and will not crack as does lacquer. Shellac is used in many industries such as electric motor winding coating, pharmaceutical and candy industry as coating and in antique furniture restoration. Since shellac was the prominent finish used in the 18th and 19th centuries, shellac is the historically correct finish to use in such restoration work. Additionally, shellac is the only FDA approved finish for children’s toys. Shellac can be brushed, padded with cheesecloth –i.e.- French Polishing, and shel
