Is there a tinted rattle can shellac or lacquer ?

[wood2woodknot]

I thought I saw cans of tinted (walnut ?) shellac or lacquer in rattle cans a couple years ago at one of the woodworking stores. Cannot seem to find it today.

Am I crazy? I don't have a spray set-up and don't like what I see when I try to stain or dye the wood (poplar) before applying a clear finish. And gel stains hide the grain patterns.

Any sightings of such? or other observations? Would like to find something if I can. I have a couple projects in mind for Christmas presents. Hoping not to get into making my own shellac from flakes.

[JR1]

The only rattle can shellac I know of doesn't come in tints. You can buy shellac flakes in many tints and mix your own or add transtint dyes to suit your self. Shellac wipes on easily and can be brushed (although I don't seem to get it right). If you are doling a lot it's worthwhile to invest in good HVLP unit like Earlex. As for lacquers I simply don't know as I don't use the rattle can lacquers.

[Bob Barkto]

Mohawk has what you want in lacquer.
http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/catalog_...?ictNbr=13

Behlen (also owned by RPM who own Mohawk) makes some aerosol spray stains and toners, in a more limited range of colors, but used to be easier to find.

[Cooler]

Guitar lacquers come in color tints:

http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Sup...ar_Lacquer.html

http://www.reranch.com/colors.htm

https://www.shellac.net/BehlenAerosols.html

[bhh]

Yes, they are known as "toners" and are a staple of the touch-up repair trade. Mohawk is the largest, but there are also others -- Guardsman, Masters, Behlen, Konig. I probably have 100 different colors, but use a handful most of the time.

Some are dye-based and some are pigment based.

[wood2woodknot]

Cooler and BHH:

Thanks for the information. Behlen seems to jog in my memory, but it's good to know I do have a number of choices and that I was not dreaming this thing.

Will start googling tomorrow. For my curent project I've decided to use PolyShades as a wipe-on (it would cost me a fortune in rattle cans) but there have been a number of times a rattle can would have been great for a small one-off.

[Scoony]

Oh No!

You mentioned PolyShades!

PolyShades is one of those finishes that generate a lot of cursing. It will work fine with in limited applications, but the darker shades can be fustrating to use. The honey pine actually looks great on pine if you keep the coats thin and even, but some of the darker colors are difficult to get a nice finish with.

[Cooler]

Scoony said:

---

Oh No!

You mentioned PolyShades!

PolyShades is one of those finishes that generate a lot of cursing. It will work fine with in limited applications, but the darker shades can be fustrating to use. The honey pine actually looks great on pine if you keep the coats thin and even, but some of the darker colors are difficult to get a nice finish with.

---

I like Polyshades (oil based) for pine and poplar. I apply polyshades until I get the right depth of color and then switch to clear if it requires additional coats. No splotching.

I prefer stain + clear for other species like oak which does not splotch.