How to Seal Open-Grain Furniture

Place a drop cloth under the furniture piece, or move it to an outdoor location. Put on a dust mask and sand the entire surface with a fine-grit sandpaper, such as 180 or 200. Make sure to sand all surfaces, even in crevices and decorative woodwork.

Wipe the furniture using a tack cloth to remove all of the sanding dust from it.

Open a can of shellac and pour it into a bucket. Add paint thinner to the shellac to thin it until it is the consistency of water. Insert a paintbrush into the bucket and drag the brush across the top edge of the bucket to remove most of the liquid. Paint the shellac mixture onto the wood in a light coat. Do not allow the liquid to pool on the wood.

Sand the surface of the furniture lightly using a 280-grit sandpaper after the shellac dries completely. Don't try to remove the shellac, simply scuff the surface until it is dull. Wipe the surface of the furniture with a clean tack cloth to remove sanding dust.

Open a can of water-based wood grain filler that is one shade darker than the color of the furniture. Insert it into a bucket and add water to the bucket until the mixture is the consistency of cream. Stir the mixture well using a paint stirrer.

Insert a clean paint brush into the filler and paint it onto all surfaces of the wood. Apply the filler first in the same direction as the wood grain, and then a second time in a perpendicular direction. Wait 10 to 15 minutes until the filler balls up when you rub it with your finger.

Wipe the entire surface of the furniture with a clean nylon rag to remove excess filler. Wipe first in the same direction as the grain and then perpendicular to it. Allow the furniture to sit for 24 hours before using it.

Sand the surface of the furniture once more with 280-grit sandpaper, moving it in the same direction as the wood grain. Wipe the entire piece of furniture down again with a tack cloth to remove the dust.