Coffee table project, Finish applied need help (shellac)

[Jason Scott]

Hey guys,

As some of you may recall I've been working on a coffee table for a long time now, well this week I finally got it done and applied the finish today, it is Shellac to match the last table I did.

I was very careful except for forgetting to cut the shellac from a 3 to a 1 lb cut So after applying an initial 3 lb cut to the top I went to a 1 lb or less cut of shellac for the subsequent coats. I have a total of about 5 or 6 coats on the top, the rest only has 1 as I have been trying to get a perfect finish on the top all day. My problem is no matter what I use, a brush or a pad it dries "streaky" with ridges here and there or brush marks, etc. I never remember having this problem on the other table so I don't know what is going on.

In the pictures the top looks fantastic, from any angle except right under a florecent light it looks absolutely perfect, high gloss, just gorgeous. But if I look over top of it and reflect a flourecent light on it, it looks streaky, like shiny>dull>shiny>dull, etc. I have done this 6 times now, and nothing seems to help, whether brush or pad or both, it just dries streaky. The shellac is B.E. 3 lb. premixed shellac with wax, same can that I used on the other table, it is maybe 6 mos. old and they say you can use it up to 3 years, so what is the deal???

I figure if I just rub it out it will be ok, but I'm no expert so I don't know what to do, all I know is I can't leave it like this and redoing it over and over has not helped the streaky-ness when it dries. I sand between coats with 320 grit, I am doing nothing new from the last time I had such great results, prep work is good, nothing contaminating anything so I am stumped. Should I just rub it out and see what happens? How long before I can rub out shellac? I included one photo with no flash trying to show you the "streaky-ness" I am talking about. I put the stuff on smooth and even, yet I have shiny and dull spots, just doesn't make sense to me. Anyway please let me know, I am applying the other coats to the rest of the piece tomorrow, but I am flat done screwing with the top except to try and rub it out.

I can tell you when I sand it between coats the table, while dull, looks nice and uniform, that is why I am thinking the rubbing out may work. Let me know guys, oh and what do you think of it so far?

Thanks,

Jason