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Shellac Pore-Filler 101:

Get an old can about the size of a catfood or tunafish (dolphin safe, of course!) and fill it with a 2lb. cut of your favorite shellac. In a fire-retardant environment (say outside on your driveway - carpark, Jeff), light it. After about 2/3 of the alcohol has burned off, extinguish with an old pot lid or something else fireproof. Allow can/burnt shellac to cool to just-cool-enough-to-touch. Apply to wood with a putty knife. Work quickly, as the stuff sets up fast. It sands/scrapes rrrrreallllly easily.

Shellac Pore-Filler 102:

Mix some 4f pumice in with your 2lb. cut of favorite shellac, to make a thin paste. Apply with a brush and then when it begins to haze, scrape with a plastic card scraper. This is the poor man's pore-o-pac.

• #101 is a bit on the exciting side the first couple times you try it, but it sands/scrapes very easily.

• #102 sets up like concrete, but lacks the thrill of being a Galoot firebug. #102 also works well on the (treadle-powered) lathe. #101 not so much.

Happy pore-packing.

Paddy