Let me start by saying that I am not a world renowned expert on finishes, but there is a significant amount of misinformation being spread which can confused anyone new to woodworking.
As regards an earlier posting about carnauba wax, it does NOT contain bees wax. Maybe the specific product you have is a combination, but carnauba wax is obtained from the leaves of the plant Copernica Cerifera, which grows only in northeastern Brazil. The leaves are boiled in water, the wax floats to the surfaces and is skimmed off and filtered. It does contain trace amounts of acid that can, over time, damage certain woods and finishes. It is most often used over another finish to add hardness, however, it does require reapplication from time to time.
As regards shellac, the basic material comes from the Coccus lacca, a scale insect that feeds on certain trees in India and southern Asia. After feeding, the insect produces through its pores a gummy substance which hardens into a protective covering called lac. This lac is collected and then it is crushed, washed and dried. After further treatment, it is skillfully drawn into thin sheets of finished shellac. When mixed with alcohol, shellac forms ordinary varnish. Lacquer is the term popularly used for some commercially prepared clear or pigmented varnishes.
Lacquer comes in two primary solutions, solvent-based and water-based. Do not let the label "water-based" fool you. These products still contain solvents, only the solvents tend to be in much lower quantities and typically are not on EPA's VOC list of hazardous materials. Over time, restrictions on solvent-based lacquers can be expected to increase, probably starting in Canada and California.
CA or cyanoacrylate is acrylic resin that cures (forms its strongest bond) almost instantly. The only trigger it requires is the hydroxyl ions in water, which is convenient since virtually any object you might wish to glue will have at least trace amounts of water on its surface. Cyanoacrylate molecules link up when they come into contact with water, and they whip around in chains to form a durable plastic mesh. The glue thickens and hardens until the thrashing molecular strands can no longer move. Cyanoacrylate glues are moderately toxic by skin or eye contact. They can glue the skin together or glue the skin and other materials together, sometimes requiring surgical separation. Acetone can be used to break these bonds. Eye contact can cause severe eye irritation. Their long term hazards are not well studied, especially with respect to inhalation.
None of this is meant to promote one form of finish over another, but knowledge of the facts can at least help in guiding decision-making.
As regards an earlier posting about carnauba wax, it does NOT contain bees wax. Maybe the specific product you have is a combination, but carnauba wax is obtained from the leaves of the plant Copernica Cerifera, which grows only in northeastern Brazil. The leaves are boiled in water, the wax floats to the surfaces and is skimmed off and filtered. It does contain trace amounts of acid that can, over time, damage certain woods and finishes. It is most often used over another finish to add hardness, however, it does require reapplication from time to time.
As regards shellac, the basic material comes from the Coccus lacca, a scale insect that feeds on certain trees in India and southern Asia. After feeding, the insect produces through its pores a gummy substance which hardens into a protective covering called lac. This lac is collected and then it is crushed, washed and dried. After further treatment, it is skillfully drawn into thin sheets of finished shellac. When mixed with alcohol, shellac forms ordinary varnish. Lacquer is the term popularly used for some commercially prepared clear or pigmented varnishes.
Lacquer comes in two primary solutions, solvent-based and water-based. Do not let the label "water-based" fool you. These products still contain solvents, only the solvents tend to be in much lower quantities and typically are not on EPA's VOC list of hazardous materials. Over time, restrictions on solvent-based lacquers can be expected to increase, probably starting in Canada and California.
CA or cyanoacrylate is acrylic resin that cures (forms its strongest bond) almost instantly. The only trigger it requires is the hydroxyl ions in water, which is convenient since virtually any object you might wish to glue will have at least trace amounts of water on its surface. Cyanoacrylate molecules link up when they come into contact with water, and they whip around in chains to form a durable plastic mesh. The glue thickens and hardens until the thrashing molecular strands can no longer move. Cyanoacrylate glues are moderately toxic by skin or eye contact. They can glue the skin together or glue the skin and other materials together, sometimes requiring surgical separation. Acetone can be used to break these bonds. Eye contact can cause severe eye irritation. Their long term hazards are not well studied, especially with respect to inhalation.
None of this is meant to promote one form of finish over another, but knowledge of the facts can at least help in guiding decision-making.