"Lew Hodgett" wrote:
"Leon" wrote:


Finishes tend to give off an odor when closed up. Many of my
customers
place clothing in the drawers and I would not want the the odor to
migrate.
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Dumb question.

Does the above also apply to shellac?

Reason I ask is that is exactly what I did with a chest I built for
clothing.

Granted my smeller isn't the best, but I can't smell any residue on
clothing stored in chest.

Of course I waited 90 days before I started using it.


Lew

I generally deliver almost immediately upon completion. I can't really ask
the customer to not use the piece for 90 days. I don't think shellac has
that problem but I don't use shellac. Assuming that there might be alcohol
spilled on a shellac finish I don't take the risk. While shellac is easier
to repair I have not yet had to repair a finish done with varnish. That
said having built well in excess of 100 drawers for personal use in our
home I have never seen the need for a finish for the drawers be it for
kitchen or furniture. Now if I am doing a pretty drawer with nice
visible joints I will varnish the out side sides of the drawer.