Shellac a table ~ Need help with a DIY Project!!!

Question

Hi! I am painting a wooden coffee table, and was thinking of laying a collage of photos on top, and then using shellac.

A) Will this work?

B) Will shellac destroy the pictures?

Is a piece of glass over the pictures a better idea/ or can I use numerous coats of shellac to build it up over the pictures?

I just want this to be a quick, easy project that I can get a few years out of.

Thanks, in advance, for your responses!

Regards,

Maria :0)

Answer 1

The name for what you want to do is Decoupage.Here's a link that should be helpful.

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/decoupa...

Answer 2

I agree with the guy that poly would be better than shellac, which almost no one uses anymore.  You'd still need tons of coats of poly to get the surface smooth.

If the table has a raised edge, then you could use a product that pours out, self-levelling, and can be quite thick -- I've seen it 1/4" thick.

I do think that glass is the preferred way to go, though.  You'll no doubt be putting favorite photos out, so you risk destroying them with whatever products you use.  The glass also makes the arrangement updateable, and makes the table surface easy to maintain.

Answer 3

Shellac will work okay but I would rather use poly urethane. It will last longer and is more resistant. Plus, it is easier to work with.