Oak Book Stand - Free Woodworking Plans

By Chris Baylor, About.com Guide

Now that the woodworking is complete, its time to apply the shellac finish to the entire woodworking project. Rather than laying the pieces on a table and applying the finish, in this case, we'll use the hinges we applied in the previous step. Thread a piece of string or fishing line through one of the screw holes in one of the hinges and hang the piece from the ceiling. Repeat with the other half.

After wiping any sawdust off of both pieces of stock, use a clean bristle or foam brush and apply a thin, even coat of shellac to both pieces. Holding the piece by the hinge should stabilize the piece enough to allow even coverage.

Once the first coat of shellac has dried thoroughly, sand both pieces lightly with 400-grit sandpaper. Wipe off the dust and apply another coat of shellac. Repeat these steps until you've reached the desired smoothness of finish, which will probably be 4-5 coats.