are you mixing them in a glass jar or are you using a metal tin. Garnet is one of the most popular colors on the market. There is powdered shellac produced by dissolving the raw material in industrial alcohol (nearly 100%)and filtered. Garnet is not only the most affordable but brings out the figure, color and grain of most types of woods. We use Tiger Flakes from Tools for Working Wood. how old are your flakes? Speed the shellac dissolving process with warm indirect heat, like from a desk lamp. i know mixing shellac in metal will darken the shellac, which is not always a bad thing, but it may also cause other problems, particularly if the tin has some sort of … Natural shellac is a widely used finish for new work and restoration. Best guess is that I've had this container for about five years -- they seem to look just fine, but something is not right. It is extracted by dissolving the Seedlac in a solvent, usually ethanol. I’ve heard of some folks purchasing 99% concentrations of isopropyl alcohol through medical suppliers. i usually mix mine in about a 2 to 2 1/2 # cut and they usually disolve in about 30 to 60 minutes. When processed, it is turned into dry flakes which are dissolved in industrial alcohol to make liquid shellac. Sources:-Shellac is a natural resin refined from Lac, the resinous secretion of the tiny scale insect Kerria lacca, which is parasitic on certain host trees in India. Well, in the first place, it may be illegal for you to buy it! I am in the middle of applying shellac as a finish I just realized that I will need more shellac. Dissolving & Mixing Mix in a dark plastic or glass container with a tightly fitting lid.Store in a cool and dark place if a clear container is used. how old is the alcohol? Not so good for the coffee taste however! The ratio 16:128 is the same as 1:8, so this should be equivalent to one ounce (by weight) of shellac flakes in 8 ounces (by volume) of alcohol. cut”) of shellac is obtained by dissolving one pound of shellac flakes in a gallon of alcohol. If you have never worked Mike Mascelli vouched for the technique, though it may take longer for the isopropyl to dissolve shellac flakes/flash off when applied. Shellac flakes are dissolved by denatured ethyl alcohol. The consistency of shellac is determined by “cut”. Here is how I mix it up for general use as a furniture finish (i.e. Shellac (/ʃəˈlæk/) is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Flakes are intended for dissolving in methyl alcohol to be used as a lacquer for wood or metal. It is probably about 5 years old and has been kept in a sealed jar but in a moist environment exceeding 80% humidity every day for most of … I’ve had good luck dissolving the flakes in either Mohawk shellac reducer or methanol, sold as methyl hydrate in Canada. It takes longer and it gets very goopy on the bottom of the jar. The strength of shellac solutions is traditionally measured by a unit known as a “pound cut,” which refers to the amount in pounds of shellac flakes dissolved in a gallon of denatured alcohol. Verified Purchase Making shellac is a simple process whereby we dissolve the flakes of shellac we buy into 190-proof denatured alcohol which we either buy through license here in the UK or we use Methylated spirits, which is denatured alcohol with an added violet colouring and any of a number of other additives that make the Meths undrinkable and even poisonous to prevent the misuse … However this is a large quantity for most woodworking shops. A small electric coffee mill is pefect for pulverizing shellac flakes. It has a super fast dry time, thus saving money and aggravation. The fact that the shellac is refined using alcohol, then put in alcohol solution by the end user makes me think that it would be germ free. the process; pulverize the button shellac to speed dissolving) stir occasionally and when dissolved add the balance of the alcohol. For a complete dissolving of 100g flake shellac alternatively following minimum quantities of alkalies are required: Shellac is a perishable product and despite common misconceptions, shellac flakes do NOT last forever. Color match is not a major consideration since each item is a separate craft item and color can vary between them. I do not recommend trying to dissolve whole flakes. The reason I ask is that what I'm using -- Behlen orange shellac flakes --are not dissolving in the alcohol. I got flakes from Stew Mac and mixed a 2 lb cut with grain alcohol. 16 ounces (by weight) of shellac per 128 ounces (by volume) of alcohol, right? Also, the dye in your denatured alcohol will not present any problem. So to reduce the cost, which is largely the result of taxes, some methanol is often added to make the ethanol poisonous and therefore not … Soak the flake shellac in about 1/2 of the total alcohol to be used for 24 hours or longer (cool room temperatures will slow the process; pulverize the button shellac to speed dissolving) stir occasionally and when dissolved add the balance of … of shellac flakes and dissolving it in 1 cup of denatured alcohol. I’d try a fresh batch of alcohol or a fresh bag of flakes, whichever is cheaper. The solution is then filtered through a fine cloth which removes any insoluble matter and reduces the naturally occurring wax contained in the Lac from 3%-5% to 0.2% or less. Complete Description Shellac Flakes, Blonde, Dewaxed Shellac is a product of insects, just one of the facts that make it a very interesting material, far more than just an old-fashioned wood finish (it is actually a natural resin like dammar or pine rosin). Fresh-mixed shellac is an excellent film finish, and we go through a lot of it in our shop. Permalink. Personally, I prefer using shellac in a stick form rather than flakes. Busting them up into a coarse powder allows them to dissolve within 14 hours. cut would be 3 lbs. The flake shellac is added to the alkaline solution and begins to melt while stirring. For example, a one pound cut (“1-lb. Dewaxed: Shellac flakes. As a painter though, you’ve probably found it most useful for dissolving shellac flakes into a usable liquid and cleaning brushes after applying shellac. Try dissolving them in denatured alcohol, mentholated spirits or isopropanol and then evaporating the alcohol off. I ground the flakes in a coffee grinder a Shellac not dissolving - The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum Then there are the flakes which are produced by the alcohol method. This type of Shellac is extracted by dissolving the Seedlac in a solvent, usually ethanol. Mix in a dark plastic or glass container with a tight fitting lid. The remaining 250 g of warm dilution water (40-50) are then slowly added while stirring. not as a barrier for urine, smoke or sap). Any other "stuff" may separate from the shellac. In excellent storage conditions, shellac flakes can last many years (storage conditions from 40F to 50F at <40% RH are suggested). Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2018. Moreover most shops do not own a weighing scale either. It is processed and sold as dry flakes 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. Shellac can be applied with a brush, pad, sprayer, or wiping cloth. shellac in a 1-pound cut -- i.e. I think this helps the dissolving process more than anything else. of shellac flakes per one gallon of high quality Denatured Alcohol solvent. In general for applying to pine needle baskets it is best to use a light consistency. Dissolving and Mixing "Cut", or ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol determines the consistency of shellac. The problem with using ethanol for dissolving and thinning shellac is that it’s quite expensive (think Everclear that you buy at the liquor store). Why Would I Need a Substitute? There are lots of… These days urethanes, epoxies, lacquers, alkyds and other woo A 3 lb. A 1lb ‘cut’, means 1lb of shellac flakes dissolved in 1 gallon of denatured alcohol. X Research source Albert Jackson and David Day, Complete Woodworker's Manual, p. 288, ISBN 0-00-414005-2 Liquid shellac is used as a food glaze, a wood finish, and a brush-on colorant. Is it possible to speed up the dissolving of shellac flakes in alcohol? Shellac not dissolving I am looking for a chemist or that type of level of knowledge. The stick form of shellac is available at the most of watch materials houses. It comes in flake form for easy dissolving, and is available in light yellow, amber and dark auburn in 1/4 lb (113g) and 1 lb (454g) packages. After complete melting a gellation will occur. Hence a smaller amount can be mixed for a 1lb cut by taking 1oz. Used as a wood finish, sealer and to ensure adhesion between other finishes. Genuine WellerMart Shellac is known for its exceptional quality. Dewaxed Shellac is refined from Seedlac using the Solvent Extraction Process. Shellac is UV - resistant and does not yellow or darken over time. Storing the flakes in the fridge or freezer is a good plan, especially once summer heat returns. Old shellac is slow to dissolve, and bleached or blonde shellac will usually not dissolve completely, leaving a jelly-like residue at the bottom of the container. I use 2 ounces of shellac flakes to 12 or 16 ounces of denatured alcohol. Which I stirred up just before going to bed on *Sunday* night. I have shellac flakes that will not dissolve in alchohol at all. Re: Shellac Question - mine won't dissolve completely By the way, I use an old coffee grinder to grind the flakes into a fine powder before adding denatured alcohol. TN Shellac offered comprises machine made Shellac that has 0% of resin and orpiment unless a fixed amount is specified by customer, thus providing for complete solubility in hot alcohol.The TN Shellac offered contains acid value of 65-76, ester value of 110-175, saponification value of 175-240, wax content of 5.50% max, moisture of 2% max, no rosin and orpiment content, … It's very easy to use and an excellent non-toxic choice for woodworkers. 1.0 out of 5 stars Not useful for dissolving shellac flakes.. The flakes may be intended for french polishing, in which case the "stuff" may be some form of wax, which typically would not dissolve in alcohol. THINNING RATIOS The term "cut" is used when referring to the amount of alcohol added to dry shellac flakes to dissolve them (one pound of shellac flakes dissolved in one gallon of alcohol gives a well-thinned one-pound cut). Shellac flakes WILL degrade such that they will no longer dissolve in alcohol. 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