[Rob]

Here's an example of what 3 coats of regular, hardware store variety, unadulterated orange shellac can do. Shellac has been used for many years as a finish but has been replaced by more durable topcoats. The good properties of shellac are numerous including ease of application, repair ease, and color. It makes a great "wash coat" (diluted with alcohol) to prevent other finishes from bleeding or blotching.
These are just a bunch of old drawers a customer wanted to spruce up. The original finish was orange shellac and that is what I applied again, after sanding all the old off to bare wood. They are just cheap ol' cedar but they have come alive again.
Orange or other colors of shellac can make other woods a lot warmer than they are with a just a clear topcoat.
Just thought you'd like to see what took about 1.5 hours of spraying 3 coats.
Before...

After...

 

[TexasTimbers]

Beautiful Rob. Very nice.

 

[Rob]

Thanks. Wasn't really looking for compliments but I'll take 'em.
Just really wanted to show how dramatic and fast plain old shellac can be on a pretty dull wood.
Here's a tip for spraying drawer fronts....
I use 2" masking tape around the portion of the drawer carcass that meets the front. Then, I just make a few wraps with that plastic stretch film about halfway down the drawer body. Keeps the finish out and is fast, easy and cheap.

 

[Big Dave]

I like the drying rack. I may have to steal that idea.

 

[C&D Woodcraft]

I like the drying rack.

Ditto.
I see the cement block in the bottom for weight, did you plan that from the beginning or find out you needed that after an oops?

 

[Rob]

Yeah, that ooops happens twice...the first time and the last time. I was daydreaming and offloaded all of one side. Fortunately, I grabbed it before it tilted too far.