[CR]Re: One more tip on Shellac

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From: <BobHoveyGa@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2003 14:36:27 EST
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: One more tip on Shellac

In a message dated 12/15/03 1:16:11 PM, classicrendezvous-request@bikelist.org writes:

<< As an antique dealer and restorer and collector shellac and I go way back. One tip not often given is this. Buy it in the smallest amounts available, use it and throw it away. Buy new for the next project...it is very inexpensive. Shellac is anhydrous and will draw moisture from the air. If this happens to your stash of it your next application of it will have a white, cloudy 'bloom'. This usually means stripping it off with alcohol and starting over. Pure frustration! >>

Good advice! Also not a good idea to do your shellacing on a humid day (if you live in Georgia that leaves you maybe a week in February...) as it will occasionally draw moisture out of the air and cloud up. Another tip if you are looking for the prettiest, clearest finish, make sure you get DEWAXED shellac... it has fewer suspended solids.

Also, be aware that shellac comes in different colors, from the palest hint of amber to the color of root beer. Though there are many varieties, the most common I've seen (from light to dark) are: clear, super blond, blond, orange, buttonlac, seedlac, ruby, and garnet. (I think the Zinser Bullseye SealCoat premixed that is available in most hardware stores is super blond).

Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA