- 1). Allow your gel stain to dry thoroughly before you apply your first coat of sealant. Usually, waiting two or three days is enough time to make sure your gel stain dries completely.
- 2). Apply a coat of de-waxed shellac to provide a stain barrier before you apply the water-resistant sealant.
- 3). Mix the shellac in a glass container that has a tightly fitting lid. Make sure you store it in a cool, dark place in between use.
- 4). Combine one pound of shellac flake to one gallon of denatured alcohol. The day before you plan to use the shellac, soak 1 pound of shellac flake in a half gallon of alcohol. When the flakes dissolve, add the remaining half gallon of alcohol.
- 5). Strain the shellac mixture through cheesecloth to remove any chunks left behind. Shake your mixture thoroughly, and let it stand undisturbed for three hours.
- 6). Brush the shellac onto your gel stain with long strokes that run with the grain. For the best results, use a natural bristle brush.
- 7). Wait for your shellac coat to dry completely, which usually takes two to four hours, and then run sandpaper over the shellac. Make sure you sand with the grain to maintain your stain barrier. Wipe your piece to remove the fine powder caused by the sanding and apply another coat of shellac if necessary.
- 8). Use a different brush to apply a wood sealer on top of your shellac coat. This will provide a moisture barrier that shellac doesn't provide.
- 9). Dip your brush into your sealant container, wiping the excess sealant on the inside of the container.
- 10
Start in the middle of your piece, then brush the sealant out then back to your original starting point. Continue this process until you coat the entire surface with sealant.
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