My Bangkok shellac blunder...

I was in Bangkok for a friend's wedding... picked up a teak box from a street market. Tried to apply shellac in my hotel bathroom... the crazy humidity made it blush instantly. Ended up with a milky, sticky mess... had to explain it to customs on the way home. Now I always check the climate before trying a finish on vacation...

3 comments

3 Comments

maxm351mo ago

Man, your story reminds me of trying to varnish a table in my damp basement one summer. The whole thing turned cloudy overnight, just like your box. I learned the hard way that some finishes just hate moisture.

the_tyler1mo agoTop Commenter

My garage project last year needed three coats of Minwax wiping poly to fix the cloudiness. A light rub with automotive rubbing compound cleared it right up.

max_murphy1mo ago

Totally get it. Wow, that's a classic disaster move right there. @maxm35 is spot on, some finishes just can't handle moisture at all. Trying to work in a hotel bathroom in Bangkok sounds like a guaranteed way to ruin your project. I bet the smell was awful in that small room too. Now I check the weather app before I even open a can of finish.