Polyurethane, varnish, shellac, and lacquer are popular wood finishes. We walk you through each product, and how to choose which finisher is best for your woodworking project.

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Lacquer is widely known for its ease of application and short drying time. It’s the most used wood finish commercially. Its primary component is the resin of varnish trees. After harvesting and refining, the resin is mixed with thinner to create lacquer.

Lacquer:
* It’s compatible with various solvents.
* It doesn’t show yellowing over time.
* It’s relatively affordable.
* It looks sleek after application.
* It has low resistance to chemicals.
* You have to apply it again year after year.
* If it gets contaminated, defects will appear on the wood.
* If the room’s temperature is too warm, bubbles will appear.
* It’s harmful to the environment.

Polyurethane is a​ sealant that provides exceptional durability on wood surfaces, and is available as both a water-based sealant and an oil-based sealant. Polyurethane is very durable – some label it as “liquid plastic” while its still in the tub, because when it dries it will turn as hard as plastic.

Polyurethane:
* Water-based or oil-based
​* Slow drying
​* Matte, satin, glossy, and high gloss finish
​* Very strong sealant
* Provides a shiny look when dry

Varnish is a clear protective finish. Varnish has little to no color and is primarily used in wood finishing applications where the final product will be in harsh conditions, such as sun or water. It can be applied over wood stains as well.

Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in forests. It is processed and sold as dry flakes, getting dissolved in denatured alcohol to make a wood finish.

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