skoot

I'm using a cherry finishing method from Jeff Jewitt's "Great Wood Finishes" that involves a coat of shellac and a gel stain (method 2 on page 96). The final step is "Apply several coats of the finish of your choice."

What does he mean? Polyurethane? If so, I assume I'd have to use an oil based one, right?

Thanks.

Wood4Fun

I think you can put anything you want over shellec as long as it is dewaxed shellac... which would be the "finish of your choice" part. Does not necessarily mean poly. Depending on the use of the piece, you can just go with another coat of shellac, a poly varnish, straight varnish, etc. If it were me and it was a piece that wouldn't get glasses set on it, I'd probably just stick with shellac. I'd use varnish for any high use pieces.
I'd pretty much use anything as long as the can didn't say Minwax on the outside.