What is shellac based paint?
Keeping this in view, what is Shellac paint used for?
It is processed and sold as dry flakes (pictured) and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish. Shellac functions as a tough natural primer, sanding sealant, tannin-blocker, odour-blocker, stain, and high-gloss varnish.
Keeping this in view, is shellac oil or water based?
Yes you can as long as the shellac is dewaxed. Waterborne finishes do not adhere well to shellac that contains its natural wax. I think the water urethanes are fussier. They respond negatively to a more things than oils.
Unlike painted cabinets, the glossiness of shellac does not hold paint well unless you prepare the surface before you apply the paint, requiring extra preparation. You must remove the shellac before applying the paint if you want to keep the paint from flaking off the surface at a later date.