Actor John Wayne, who was famous for fighting Indians, enemy soldiers, and all sorts of movie bad guys (and ultimately giving them a real "shellac-ing") was born on this day in 1907. If you're ready to finish off a woodwork project and you're trying to decide what type of coating would be best, follow in the Duke's footsteps and don't overlook shellac! It's a "natural" with a lot to offer. It consists of pure resin harvested from trees. Besides being non-toxic and fume-free, it goes on easily, dries quickly, and doesn't discolor over time. In its pure form it is quite water resistant, but it can be damaged by heat, alcohol, or strong detergents and ammonia. Thus, it's not for use on counters and tabletops or for high-traffic areas. On furniture, when waxed or topped with a clear coat of spar varnish, you get a classic look that's been around for centuries. Check out shellac, and you'll see why (like John Wayne) it's endured the ages!