Diploma in Finishes: Stains, Shellac and Varnishes
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in wood finishes: stains, shellac and varnishes. 8 modules covering wood and its finish, stains and dyes, shellac and French polishing, traditional and modern varnishes, preparation and grain filling, application and polishing, and conservation criteria, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Finishes: Stains, Shellac and Varnishes — studying from South Africa
Classic vehicle restoration is a niche but active interest in South Africa, supported by owners' clubs, specialist workshops and historic motorsport events. Restoration work draws on skills in mechanical engineering, materials and heritage conservation. Specialists source parts, rebuild engines and conserve bodywork for vintage and classic cars and motorcycles. Clubs and heritage organisations help maintain the community and promote conservation practice.
Fees for South Africa: R 16 700 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the professional bodies in South Africa for this area?
SEIUM qualifications are private and not accredited by any South African body, so they are not official state degrees. Restoration work is not generally a regulated title, though ECSA registration applies to engineering roles and the SABS covers relevant standards. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by clients, employers or the relevant body, so check with them first.
How might this qualification be used by employers in South Africa in restoration and classic vehicles?
The classic vehicle sector is largely made up of specialist workshops, collectors and small firms that value demonstrable craftsmanship and reputation over formal credentials. A private qualification may add technical depth to your profile, but its impact depends on individual clients and employers. Speak to people in the field to see how they would regard it.
Can I study this programme alongside full-time work from South Africa, and is there a time zone or language issue?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from home without a student visa. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, can pay in instalments, and may seek employer sponsorship. Ask SEIUM about time-zone and workload details before committing.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the relationship between wood and its finish.
Apply stains and dyes with accurate colour.
Master French polishing with shellac.
Select traditional and modern varnishes.
Prepare surfaces and fill the grain correctly.
Apply and polish high-quality finishes.
Conserve historical finishes with sound judgement.
Who it's for
- Restoration finishers and French polishers.
- Interior restoration technicians.
- Cabinetmakers working on classic vehicles.
- Wooden boat restorers.
- Furniture conservation technicians.
- Finishing workshop managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter classic vehicle restoration.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2004/42/EC (limits on VOC emissions from paints and varnishes)
- Royal Decree 227/2006 (Spanish transposition of VOC limits for paints and varnishes)
- ISO 2813 (measurement of gloss)
- EN 15898 (conservation of cultural property, main general terms)
- Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH) (registration and restriction of chemicals)
- FIVA Charter of Turin (principles for the use and restoration of historic vehicles)
- X-Rite Color iMatch
- Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Excel
- Agisoft Metashape
8 modules
1.1Wood anatomy and porosity1.2Species used in dashboards and bodywork1.3Veneers and marquetry1.4Moisture content and stability1.5Wood–finish interaction1.6History of wood finishes1.7Finishes in cars, boats and furniture1.8Diagnosis of the existing finish1.9The finisher's tools1.10Workshop: identification of species and finishes
2.1Water-, spirit- and oil-based stains2.2Aniline and metal-complex dyes2.3Chemical stains: walnut stain and historical bichromates2.4Pigments and glazes2.5Colour matching in repairs2.6Staining new veneers2.7Colour tests on samples2.8Lightfastness2.9Errors and corrections2.10Practical: stain matching on a walnut veneer
3.1Origin and production of shellac3.2Types: blonde, orange, dewaxed3.3Preparing solutions3.4French polishing with a rubber3.5Bodying and spiriting-off technique3.6Problems: blooming and marks3.7Shellac as a sealer3.8Repairing shellac finishes3.9Alcohol safety3.10Workshop: French polishing a panel
4.1Oil and natural resin varnishes4.2Copal and amber varnishes4.3Nitrocellulose varnishes4.4Polyurethane varnishes4.5Waterborne acrylic varnishes4.6Marine varnishes and UV filters4.7Compatibility between coats4.8Selection by use and period4.9VOC regulations for varnishes4.10Practical: comparison of varnishes on test pieces
5.1Progressive sanding5.2Grain raising5.3Traditional grain fillers5.4Sealers5.5Stripping old finishes5.6Cleaning and degreasing5.7Repairing lifted veneers5.8Treating stains and burns5.9Dust control5.10Case study: preparing a burr walnut dashboard
6.1Brush application6.2Spray application6.3Coats, thicknesses and drying times6.4Sanding between coats6.5Polishing with fine abrasives6.6Mirror gloss and satin finishes6.7Finishing waxes6.8Gloss control to ISO 28136.9Defects and their correction6.10Workshop: varnishing and polishing a trim moulding
7.1Ageing of finishes7.2Cleaning varnished surfaces7.3Consolidation versus replacement7.4Reversibility of materials7.5Documentation of interventions7.6Criteria for historic vehicles7.7Exposure to light and humidity7.8Preventive maintenance7.9Health risks7.10Case study: conservation of an original 1930s finish
8.1Selection of the piece8.2Initial diagnosis8.3Period research8.4Intervention plan8.5Stain and varnish tests8.6Execution of the finish8.7Quality control8.8Conclusions8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is X-Rite Color iMatch, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel and Agisoft Metashape, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for French polishing with shellac, stain matching in veneer repairs and varnishing classic vehicle dashboards. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive 2004/42/EC, Royal Decree 227/2006, ISO 2813, EN 15898, Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 (REACH), FIVA Charter of Turin.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with X-Rite Color iMatch, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Excel and Agisoft Metashape, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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