Shellac....or maybe I shouldn't have.

[Frederick]

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question please.

I am turning a large platter as a wedding present for a friend. I have applied 4 coats of wax free shellac to the underside and wondering what would be the best high closs finish to use bearing in mind the current weather conditions and temerature etc.

Cheers
Frederick

PS.
I wish I could mutate like this virus......I would turn (no pun) into a superhero called woodturning man .....medics......where's my pills..... I wonder what superhero you would be.....and why.

 

[pittswood]

I have used shellac on bowls, pens and my guitar. No problems even in this humidly. One problem with shellac is, it can be "burnt" off be some fruits. My second though would to use melamine finish.
Regards,
Kelvin

 

[Frederick]

I have used shellac on bowls, pens and my guitar. No problems even in this humidly. One problem with shellac is, it can be "burnt" off be some fruits. My second though would to use melamine finish.
Regards,
Kelvin

Thanks for this Kelvin. I didn't know that fruit could react with shellac, but thinking about it, shellac is an organic substance and, of course, so is fruit. Good point and thank you...

Cheers
Frederick

 

[pittswood]

You're welcome mate.
Kelvin

 

[Pierre]

As far as I know wax free shellac is french polish by any other name (or Button polish as well but that takes less coats) the normal finish for those is 7-15 coats (dried between) burnished with old fashioned newspaper and its print; try the times or the telegraph . Shellac (or French polish) does not like damp things on it, especially fruit, they leave white rings even though it is supposed to be a moisture resistant polish . Back in the olden days they used to employ polishers whose job it was to make a 'Rubber or Fad' and go round and round in small circles for days on end applying shellac French polish. Here's a quote for you 'Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Once processed into dry flakes they are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to make liquid shellac' . It is very very tedious...I know.

 

[wm460]

i HAVE A BAG OF SHELLAC SITTING IN THE CUPBOARD, ( sorry about the caps)

Does it go off?

 

[Penpal]

I have a mate whose finishes are world class 27 coats of Shellac is normal for him wish I could show you results will try later. His document boxes et al start at 10,000 wholesale.

Christmas wishes friend.Peter.

 

[Frederick]

I have a mate whose finishes are world class 27 coats of Shellac is normal for him wish I could show you results will try later. His document boxes et al start at 10,000 wholesale.

Christmas wishes friend.Peter.

Thank you Peter and the same to you. It's not too good here due to the new strain of the virus. Most people can't even visit their families because of tier 4 rules. But, saying that, it will be all over one day and I just hope I don't catch it in the mean time.

Stay safe mate...

Cheers
Frederick

 

[Frederick]

i HAVE A BAG OF SHELLAC SITTING IN THE CUPBOARD, ( sorry about the caps)

Does it go off?

I know that it deteriorates in its fluid form som ther may be a time limit on the flakes, In fluid form (depending on the cut) I think 3 months is a reasonable time but I am no expert.

Cheers
Frederick

 

[Penpal]

Found some pics of my mates document boxes starting at 10.000 dollars bud vase 750.00 all 27 coats of Shellac. Neat to hear from you all the best Peter and Wilma,


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