Just had a shellac disaster on a 1920s dresser in Tacoma

I was applying a 2lb cut of dewaxed shellac in a client's garage when the whole piece started to bloom and turn milky white. The temp dropped below 50 degrees overnight and the humidity spiked, which I didn't check. I had to strip the entire top with denatured alcohol and start over after moving the piece inside for two full days. Has anyone else had shellac go bad that fast from a cold, damp space?

3 comments

3 Comments

alex_flores241mo ago

That "bloom and turn milky white" is exactly why I never used to check the weather. One ruined tabletop taught me to always bring the piece inside first.

finley551mo ago

Shellac blooms in my garage all the time, but it usually fixes itself when it warms up.

oliverw4621d ago

Oh man, I read somewhere that bloom happens when moisture gets trapped in the finish.