Thanks guys!
I'd have thought there would be synthetic shellac these days
Just for the record, I used the shellac only to fill the grain. Most of it was sanded off with the shellac only remaining in the pores. I imagine real grain filler would go a lot faster.
P.S.
I picked up a felt block the size of a chalkboard eraser a few days ago and used it on another project. Very nice to use for rubbing out with pumice or rottentone.