My shellac pad stuck to a tabletop and ripped the whole finish off

I was working on a 1920s oak table in my shop yesterday, doing a French polish, and the pad just grabbed and tore a big patch right down to the wood. I had to stop, strip the whole top back, and start the finish over from scratch. Has anyone else had this happen and know what causes it?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina_campbell2mo ago

Shellac pads shouldn't stick like that, right?

milesbailey2mo ago

Yeah, I saw a nail tech on YouTube talking about this. She said if the pad is too thin or the glue is old, it can cause sticking. You might need to buff the natural nail a bit more first.

rubyshah2mo ago

So how do you know if the glue is too old?