Dewaxed shellac is the shellac that comes in flake form in a bag rather than the premixed form that’s already in a can and ready to apply. That’s the easiest way to distinguish one from another at the woodworking store.
In order to preserve the shellac flakes, the wax is removed, leaving only the hardest substances behind, which are later on mixed into a liquid finish. These flakes are durable, they store well, and they can last a very long time.
Canned shellac that’s already mixed will have wax in the liquid, and if you need a Wood Finishing that does not contain wax, you are going to have to mix it yourself. However, there are so many good reasons to do it that you’ll probably never buy canned shellac again.
You Control the Mixture
One of the biggest advantages of using dewaxed shellac and mixing your own finish is that you control the mixture. Instead of buying something that’s already mixed into a certain volume of shellac for the volume of alcohol, you get to pick.
You Control the Freshness
Another really big advantage to mixing your own is that you control the freshness of the mixture. Finishes to go bad over time, and sometimes it can be difficult to tell whether you’re buying a fresh product or not at the store.
You Control the Thinners and Additives
Since you are the one in charge, and you are mixing the shellac and thinners together to make your mixture, you get to control everything. This means you get to decide exactly what types of thinners and additives you’ll use in Woodworking.
You Control the Color Perfectly
Another advantage that can come in handy is the ability to control the exact color of the resulting shellac mixture. Shellac flakes come in a lot of colors. They range from almost clear to very dark amber/brown.


Shellac is a fun finish for lot of reasons. First, it’s easy to make it puts you in control. Second, it’s a traditional finish that has a very long track record. Finally, shellac ads a warm glow to any piece that makes it look amazing.