How to Finish Birch Plywood With Shellac

Whether the project you are working on is large or small, using a shellac for your birch plywood adds a soft, natural finished look. Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the lac bug, found in certain parts of India and Thailand. The sticky secretion, when mixed with denatured alcohol, creates a popular wood finish for a variety of projects. Birch wood is especially ideal for shellac, as it brings out the detail of the wood grain, accentuating its beauty. Use clear, premixed shellac for your birch plywood for a simple and easy application process.

Drop cloths
Clear premixed shellac, 1 gallon can
Birch plywood
Foam paint roller
Paint try
Natural bristle paintbrush -- about 2 inches wide
320-grit sandpaper
Steel wool pad

Instructions

- 1
  Lay the plywood down on a large drop cloth or old sheet.
- 2
  Pour the premixed shellac into a paint tray.
- 3
  Dip the paint roller in the shellac, and roll it across the length of the plywood, creating a strip of shellac.
- 4
  Smooth out the shellac using the ends of the paintbrush, to get rid of any air bubbles.
- 5
  Roll another strip of shellac onto the plywood -- adjacent to the first strip -- and smooth it out. Repeat the rolling and smoothing until you have shellacked the entire piece of plywood. Allow the shellac to dry completely, for at least 2 hours.
- 6
  Sand the plywood lightly using a fine sandpaper, about 320-grit. Avoid sanding too hard or you will ruin the shellac. Remove the dust, by wiping it off with a dry cloth.
- 7
  Apply a second and third coat of shellac, leaving time for complete drying in between.
- 8
  Sand the plywood lightly one more time with the sandpaper, then rub the surface to a high shine using a fine steel wool pad and small circular motions. Or you can leave the finish as is, after applying the final coat of shellac.

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