Tried a $15 foam brush versus a $2 china bristle for applying shellac on a walnut dresser. The cheap one won, hands down.

The foam brush left a ton of tiny bubbles in the finish that I had to sand out. The china bristle laid it on smooth and even in one coat. I was convinced the more expensive tool would be better, but it just made a mess. What's your go-to brush for shellac or other fast-drying finishes?

3 comments

3 Comments

irisowens1mo ago

I had the exact same thing happen with a foam brush on a maple table last year. It looked like I'd painted with fizzy soda. Now I only use those cheap, natural bristle brushes from the hardware store for shellac. They hold the finish just long enough to lay it down smooth. What brand of shellac were you using?

shane_hayes1mo ago

Oh man, the foam brush fizzy soda look is the worst. You know, I wonder if it's less about the brand of shellac and more about the alcohol in it. That stuff eats foam brushes alive. I switched to using a decent quality nylon brush meant for lacquer and thinner, and it made a huge difference. The bristles don't dissolve and you can actually clean the thing properly.

laura_chen411mo ago

Did you try cleaning the brush with ammonia after?