We believe that a beautiful house, workplace, or any other place becomes beautiful by its outer and inner aesthetics, such as the plants, furniture, paint, and many more.
But little do we realize that all of these things are available in numerous categories, and it is we who need to make suitable choices for our use.
Furniture is a very crucial aspect of a place’s interior, being beautiful and eye-catching, and the furniture makers take the help of wood polishes and finish to make it look more intriguing.
Shellac and Lacquer are two such wooden finishes used vastly all across the world. To know the most suitable one, it is important to be aware of the differences that lie between them.
Key Takeaways
- Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the lac beetle, while lacquer is a synthetic or natural resin applied to surfaces for protection and decoration.
- Shellac is used for small-scale projects, while the lacquer is used for larger-scale projects.
- Shellac has a more natural, warm appearance, while lacquer can have a glossy or matte finish.
Shellac vs Lacquer
The difference between Shellac and Lacquer is that the former happens to be a form of resin that is yielded from a species of lac bug known as Kerria Lacca and happens to be easier to use as a wooden finish, while the latter refers to colored coatings that get hard with the passage of time and get utilized as a wooden finish.
Shellac is the word for shell and lac and refers to the thing layers of resin produced by a particular species of bugs known as the Kerra Lacca. It is majorly manufactured in countries like India and Thailand and has a very high demand in the wooden industry.
After the proper chemical processing, it merges in the form of solid flakes and converts them into liquid by further processing.
While on the other hand, Lacquer is derived from a word in the Sanskrit language which is Laaksha. It refers to a gluey sort of substance found attached to certain species of trees.
In modern times, it is mostly associated with the French word lacer representing a form of wax that seals things together. A major advantage of this wooden finish over others is that the temperature at which it dries can be controlled by humans.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Shellac | Lacquer |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | It is the word for shell and lac and refers to the thing layers of resin produced by a particular species of bugs known as the Kerra Lacca. | It is derived from a word of Sanskrit language that is Laaksha. It refers to a gluey sort of substance found attached to certain species of trees. |
| Originates from | Produced by certain insects called the lac bugs. | produced by a particular species of bugs known as the Kerra Lacca |
| Color adaptation | It comes in many colors and produces a pigmentation of its own. | It does not produce any pigmentation of its own and quietly adopts the color of the wood upon which it is being used. |
| Temperature control | It dries according to its own terms, and humans have almost negligible control over the same. | Though it dries super-fast, this process can be controlled by humans. |
| Types | It does not have any definite types, but it comes in multiple diversified colors. | It has three major types- Nitrocellulose lacquer, Water-based lacquer, Acrylic lacquer |
What is Shellac?
When two words that are shell and lac, join each other, the word Shellac comes into existence. It is a kind of organic chemical compound present in the form of wax and is yielded from a particular bug called Kerra Lacca.
Majorly the people of Thailand and India cultivate these bugs for the commercial production of this substance.
It emerged as a big sensation in the early 19th century and snatched the market from the biggest oil and wax substances. But soon, in the 1930s, it was overshadowed by the newly invested Lacquer finish.
It primarily exists in the form of a sticky substance on the tree, and with the help of heat, it is melted. After being melted, it is dried and given the form of squares or buttons.
For end-user utilization, it is crushed into fine particles and then mixed with ethyl alcohol to produce the Shellac finish.
What is Lacquer?
Originally taken from a Sanskrit word, Lacquer happens to be another variety of wooden finishes widely used in the furniture industry. It can majorly be divided into two categories that are then processed and unprocessed lacquer.
In the unprocessed one, only some impurities are gotten rid of, and the rest of the product is used to finish the last layers of the furniture.
While in the processed version, the substance is melted until the water available in it naturally evaporates all by itself. This helps to finish the primary and middle layers.
It does not produce any pigmentation of its own and quietly adopts the color of the wood upon which it is being used. It has three major types-
- Nitrocellulose lacquer
- Water-based lacquer
- Acrylic lacquer
In terms of ease of use, this substance outruns all other substances because it is very easy for one to use and gets evaporated at the rate one allows it to. Unlike Shellac, it has the ability to become both glossy and matte in finish.
Main Differences Between Shellac and Lacquer
- Shellac, on one side, is the word for shell and lac and refers to the thing layers of resin produced by a particular species of bugs known as the Kerra Lacca. While on the other hand, Lacquer is derived from a word in the Sanskrit language, that is Laaksha. It refers to a gluey sort of substance found attached to certain species of trees.
- Shellac has this glossy touch to its texture, while Lacquer provides more of a wooden finish.
- Lacquer has three major types that are Nitrocellulose lacquer, Water-based lacquer, and acrylic lacquer. But the Shellac, on the other hand, does not consist of any such definite categories.
- Shellac is a kind of wood finish that comes in many colors and produces a pigmentation of its own. But talking about Lacquer, it never produces its own pigmentation and adapts to the color of the area where it is being used.
- Shellac, on one side, dries according to its own terms, and humans have almost negligible control over the same. But on the other side, the drying process of Lacquer can be controlled by humans and is more user-friendly.
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ie50191a007
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07366578608081978
Last Updated : 25 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The comparison between shellac and lacquer temperature control was particularly interesting to me. It’s fascinating to see the differences in drying time and temperature control.
I found that aspect to be intriguing as well, great point.
The origins of shellac and lacquer have always been a mystery to me. I’m glad to have come across this article to finally learn about it.
I’ve had the same curiosity, and this article has been enlightening.
I agree, it’s been a fascinating read.
The comparison table is very helpful for understanding the differences between shellac and lacquer. Great article!
I found the comparison table extremely useful as well.
I’ve never known the difference between shellac and lacquer until now, great explanation.
I appreciate the thorough explanation of shellac and lacquer provided in this article. It’s been a very educational read.
I couldn’t agree more, very insightful article.
The process of manufacturing shellac and lacquer was something I was completely unaware of. This article has been educational.
I agree, I’ve learned a lot about the manufacturing process of these finishes.
Thank you for this informative article. I’ve always been interested in learning more about different types of wooden finishes and this has given me a good starting point.
Yes, I’ve learned a lot from this article, thank you.
I agree, such an interesting read.
The detailed explanation of shellac and lacquer has provided me with a clear understanding of how they differ. Thank you for this informative article.
It was a very informative read, glad I came across this article.
Yes, I’ve been looking for a comprehensive explanation of these finishes.
I’ve always wondered about the meaning and types of shellac and lacquer, and this article has answered all my questions.
Such a comprehensive explanation, this was exactly what I was looking for.
These details about the origins and manufacturing processes of shellac and lacquer are fascinating. I appreciate the in-depth information provided.
I agree, the article really goes into depth about these finishes.
The historical context provided for shellac and lacquer is a great addition to this article. It’s always interesting to know the background of these materials.
Yes, it adds a lot of value to the article.
I found the historical context to be very enlightening as well.