Varnish makers usually advise that shellac should never be used as a priming coat for other varnish; this is probably because they wish to sell more of their own goods, for shellac is really an excellent first coat, except for exterior work, where it should not be used. Of course, wood should be filled before shellacking, the same as for other varnish. Varnish does not, however, wear well over a heavily shellacked sur face. Shellac makes a good floor varnish, discoloring the wood very little, and wearing fairly well. After the floor has been well varnished with it, very thin coats, applied rather frequently—say every one to four months, according to use—will keep the floor in fine condition; and after applying one of these thin coats (of thinned shellac), it will be dry enough to use in an hour. This can be applied with a very wide, flat brush, and a man can go over the floor of an ordinary room in a few minutes. Shellac brushes should be washed out with alcohol immediately after using.
are not good enough. In the first place, do not use any filler on exterior work; it will probably crumble and come out. Do not use shellac; as an undercoat exposed to the hot sun, it will soften and blister. Use only the best spar varnish, such as is made for varnish ing the spars of yachts; fill the wood with it; sandpaper lightly between coats, just enough so that each succeeding coat will take hold well; finish with a coat well flowed on; and leave it with its natural gloss, which is more lasting than a rubbed surface. This is the treatment for hand-rails, outside doors, inside blinds, window sills and jambs, and everything exposed to the direct sun. Hand rails and outside doors should be refinished every year; varnish will not last on an outside door more than one-twentieth as long as it will on an inside door. Never use interior varnish for outside work.