Mixing Shellac (quickly)

[@bobscruggs8886]

I have used can shellac for several projects in the past but regardless how much I cut it the results are lacking due to the fact most cans have wax mixed in and using a poison like denatured alcohol started to bother me so I ordered some flakes and will buy grain alcohol from the local liquor store you are the only video that I found using this method. Thanks for sharing

[@carlossevillano6989]

I have been doing this for years and it never occurred to me. I purchased an extra mixer for my Nutrigrinder with the coffee blade attachment and just hit it for about 3 minutes until the lacquer was pulverized into the denatured alcohol. Then it was ready in about 30 minutes. Susan.. Thank you. This is a great time saver. Thank you to Jim MacBrayne for the same and the addition of using a bath of hot water to make things go faster.

[@MOAB-UT]

So shellac is food safe?

[@carlossevillano6989]

@@MOAB-UT In M&Ms yes.. in guitar finish.. No. Denatured alcohol is a poison. I am using this rig for mixing now days "faster way": kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZvXZYp6jpKCaKs

[@patsytankersley1372]

@@MOAB-UT Yes it is

[@MOAB-UT]

@@patsytankersley1372 Thanks. My projects came out great. Big fan!

[@ronaldcumpsty5605]

I have just made some friction polish using 99% isopropyl, shellac flakes and boiled linseed oil. Works great if the flakes and isopropyl are left for the 24 hours with a shake every so often, 1 spoon of flakes with 5 spoons of isopropyl to give 2lb cut. Followed with a further 5 spoons of isopropyl and 5 spoons of boiled linseed oil

[@raycowburn7155]

Thanks for the instructional. I wanted to mix shellac for diesel gasket sealant and thought I'd try something "different". I placed a glass jar with a mix of flakes and metho in my ultrasonic cleaner...just to see what happens. Safety hint: don't put flammable liquids in an ultrasonic unit unless sealed from the electronics!! The ultrasonic cleaner has a water heater so I set that to 40C figured warmer = faster. The ultrasonic micro-bubbles cause a fairly quick mixing action; without manual shaking the flakes were mostly dissolved in 20 minutes and a stiff honey-like mix after 1 hour, some sediment. Cleaners work better with a few drops of detergent to promote bubbles that explode on the surface of the hard object...so maybe that could speed it up more but might not suit a purist looking for a french polish bubble free effect. Lazy me...

[@brianpage1886]

Thank you for this. Lot's of good ideas. I like the choice of the Polish Spirit. A friend of mine traded for a case of this from the crew of a Polish freighter in Vancouver Harbour. It was good with orange juice. I gave some to my old boss to celebrate a successful office move. As we had not unpacked in the new office yet, the only cup I could find was a styrofoam coffee cup (back in those days). Needless to say the Polish Spirit just dissolved the bottom of the cup. I am going to use shellac to finish some shop furniture that I just built. I just need something very quick and easy to touch up that I can wipe dust off. I might just throw a couple of ball bearings in the jar and put it in my rock tumbler.

[@jimmacbrayne3578]

I do use a coffee grinder, which speeds things up considerably. Also, put the jar into a bath of hot ( not just warm ) water. I've prepared a two pound cut in about 30 minutes using these methods. ConVivo

[@nurgle11]

I've used hot water to stand the jar in between agitation (really speeds things up) but never thought of the coffee grinder, I've used a mortar and pestle though which was pretty effective and easy to clean.

[@alessandroandrenacci2372]

I also think using a coffee grinder isn't a good idea, unless you use it just for shellac and anymore for really grinding coffee ; you know, shellac is derived from some insects, and, although at the origin washed and heated, give me some fear . . . I tried using shellac as finishing paint for printed circuit board ; tinned with red alcool ( for medical uses, cheaply, but mixed with acetone, i believe , with "hospital" smell and probably toxic vapours ! ) . Better would be using what in Italy is called "pure alcool" (>96%) , which is used for making liqueurs, but heavily taxed ! ( with using this for a long period, at worst case, you only can get drunk ! )

[@sempercompellis]

if you are in a rush the thing to do is grind up the flakes first, either with a grinder or a rolling pin-

[@AlbertFilice]

I use cheap magnetic stirrer from online, works wonders to stir the shellac nonstop. Looking forward to seeing you make a return!

[@hrendon84]

you would be correct. in the US it is Everclear. its quite cheap as well.

[@timsmoot5141]

Thanks for the vid. I must admit I've never mixed shellac or used it as a finish (except once, which is a long and embarrassing story). I do however use Zinnzer SealCoat, which is a pre-mixed 2 pound cut, de-waxed shellac, as a sealer and a barrier coat under lacquer and polyurethane finishes. Being impatient, your quick mix method may get me to try the flakes.

[@ceknott]

Very well explained without going on and on thanks

[@thomasgronek6469]

Thanks for the video, I understand the whole conversion thing, but why overcomplicate it ?. Just mix 250g of shellac flakes with one Liter of ethanol, or 1/2 pound in one quart.

[@telosfd]

Dear Susan this is the first answer in my questions, what next?

[@timearll266]

Thanks for sharing.👍

[@DwightMS1]

Great tips about the shaking. I'll do it.

[@declanmurphy729]

Can white spirits be used to mix with shellac?

[@watchyMCFCwatchy]

Hello Susan, that was an intersting vid. I normally don't make up that much shellac for my work. I use 23g shellac per 100cc of alcohol, which is more than enought to finish my vintage radio cabinets. I make them is plastic squeezy bottles that have a nozzle top. When mixng you don't need to baby sit this stuff. What I do is lay the bottle on its side and put it on top on a radiator to gently warm it, agitating every now and again. Out of interest, what is the name of that Polish alcohol you buy? Can you send me a link. Rgds Michael.

[@JediBuddhist]

*Thanks*

[@cliffcarlo180]

Hi Sue, Can I ask where you buy your flakes from. I have used the pr-mixed in the past but I would like to make my own in batches when I need it. Hope you don't mind me asking. ❤

[@denisferriere]

I fix the bottle on the lathe and spin it all night slowly

[@Daisy.florina]

Can it be used in cane

[@ma-mv9mv]

Use a pulverizer, much quicker and no shaking

[@Nizaammosesguitarist]

Hi there, thanks great vid, i followed your exact methods, but for some reason my mixture came out very merky (milky), . i used 99% denatured alcohol, even when i use Spirits it come merky.UPDATE: i started shaking it alot and it seems to be clearing up!!

[@Generalvass]

Poderia ensinar a fazer o verniz a óleo usado em instrumentos musicas?

[@nev123123123]

Good video if I wanted to make a 3lbs cut I'm metric to weight?

[@SandraElderberry]

Thank you!

[@igoryakunin685]

Isnt the "gel" u want to mix in is the WAX content of shellac, which u DONT want, and want to avoid when applying on wood?.. pretty sure that wax mixed in ur shellac is no good for a finish

[@MOAB-UT]

I'm too lazy to shake for three hours. I would do a few loads of laundry and put it in a towel nest on top of my dryer. DONE.

[@jonblake9163]

Hi how much is that bag of Shellac Resin (In US Dollars) Thanks

[@TheLegend-nx3mm]

Hi Susan, really helpful video. Can I ask..as I'm new to using shellac...what would you use for which wood? For example rosewood Verneer what is the best flakes to use ? Blonde, lemon, garnet ? Kind regards Danny UK

[@SusanGardener]

I’d use blonde if you don’t want to darken the rosewood any more. Even blonde will darken the shade a bit. It’s simply what shade you want to end up with

[@TheLegend-nx3mm]

@@SusanGardener I want to darken slightly...not dark brown ...? I thought maybe lemon or button shellac ? I'm assuming Garnet is very dark ??

[@SusanGardener]

Garnet isn’t as dark as you might think, as it’s a thin coating. You could try starting with button or garnet and switch to blonde when it’s the shade you want. On light bare woods start with blonde to get things level before switching to garnet, otherwise it could look patchy. You might be ok starting dark on rosewood though

[@TheLegend-nx3mm]

@@SusanGardener Ok I will do that. Much appreciated for your assistance in this. Take care kind regards Danny

[@TheLegend-nx3mm]

@@SusanGardener Hi Susan, sorry .... forgot to ask....where would you recommend purchasing the pure alcohol? lastly is dewaxed flakes for a better quality finish ?

[@williambranham6249]

Emergency shellac.? Has anyone tried a blender that is popular for fruit smoothies? That's a lot of time to be occupied with a menial task. I watch a lot of movies so I shake my shellac then. Thanks for the video.

[@moiraleon8744]

can I dissolve shellac with isopropyl alcohol?

[@bmzaron713]

yes

[@nssdesigns]

Was that a 2lb cut mix 15g/45g?

[@SusanGardener]

+Paul Hitchman yes it was. With hindsight I'd probably mix it thinner 15/50

[@mrbillhicks]

Denatured alcohol (that's what they call it in America) = Mentholated spirits... Cheap as chips... Everclear is something else all together... If you require french polish which costs an arm and a leg... continue watching

[@daverobert7927]

1:3 raatio 14 grams Shellac x 3 equals 42 grams....... 14 grams Shellac + 42 solution equals 56 grams ........... . Just saying

[@hawkeye10100]

Sorry I couldn't hear the video.

[@ceknott]

A bit too long the shaking. We do not need real time please