Shellac from flakes

[Westpacx3]

I have some Rockler blonde flakes from 2006 that were stored In a conditioned shop, in original plastic bags and in the plastic container they came in.

I have new denatured alcohol and the flakes are not braking down well.

Could they be too old regardless of how they were stored?

Would 200 proof food and lab grade ethanol work better to brake these down?

Should I just trash it and get new?

If I get new, what course do you all prefer? Lots of colors out there and with no real project in mind its hard to decide but I do like the use of shellac. Just been using it on small keepsake boxes.

At my experience level I have just been using Zinzers Amber and clear from a can. My flakes are hand me downs but maybe 20 years is just to old...

 

[Jvsquare]

You could try isopropyl alcohol— some people swear by it. But generally it can take a lot of time for flakes to dissolve unless you shake it constantly. I bought a magnetic mixer and set it up and go do something else for a while. If you use a container with a metal lid you can flip it over and the stirrer will stick to the lid so you can get it out.

I use Brooklyn Tool and Craft brand but haven’t really tried anything else. Mostly blonde unless I want a redder tint.

 

[Westpacx3]

You could try isopropyl alcohol— some people swear by it. But generally it can take a lot of time for flakes to dissolve unless you shake it constantly. I bought a magnetic mixer and set it up and go do something else for a while. If you use a container with a metal lid you can flip it over and the stirrer will stick to the lid so you can get it out.

I use Brooklyn Tool and Craft brand but haven’t really tried anything else. Mostly blonde unless I want a redder tint.

Thanks, I forgot about the mixer and I have seen others on line grind up the flakes as well..

 

[Cuthriell]

I have run into some old and not so old flakes before with the same problem. I used and old coffee grinder to get them finer and heated the alcohol/shellac in a crock pot to no avail. I ended up tossing it out.

 

[Westpacx3]

I have run into some old and not so old flakes before with the same problem. I used and old coffee grinder to get them finer and heated the alcohol/shellac in a crock pot to no avail. I ended up tossing it out.

Thanks, 20 years might just be asking too much. Pretty much just playing with it now but like the idea of mixing a batch at s time and not rebuying cans although they seem to be lasting s few years without issue.

I had been just using homemade danish oil and a satin laquer but im trying to expand my skills some.

 

[Jack A.]

From my experience, it takes a while (i.e. multiple hours or overnight) for shellac to dissolve, even when ground up. I have a cheap coffee grinder dedicated to that task.

 

[Westpacx3]

From my experience, it takes a while (i.e. multiple hours or overnight) for shellac to dissolve, even when ground up. I have a cheap coffee grinder dedicated to that task.

This has been 2 days. Shaking it has helped but not there yet..

 

[wndopdlr]

It often takes me several days to dissolve completely and that is with grinding my flakes and putting them in a container with a couple 3/8" nuts to act as agitators when I shake them. I have had no luck with a cheap magnetic stirrer that I bought from Amazon. The magnetic capsule just gets bound up in the bottom of the mason jar and doesn't spin.

 

[Graywolf]

My process has been to grind the flakes into a powder and after placing it and the denatured alcohol together in a sealed jar. Shake it about every fifteen minutes or so for about a couple of hours. Then let it set over night. That usually does the trick.

 

[gator]

one of these work well

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[Rushton]

My flakes are hand me downs but maybe 20 years is just to old...

Very likely to be your problem. Even flakes stored well eventually degrade and won't mix.

 

[Rwe2156]

Couple things to know:

First, is this waxed or dewaxed? IIRC dewaxed shellac lasts a long time, but I don't know about 19 years. I've thought waxed shellac degrades much faster, but I never use it.

Second, what cut? If you're doing a 3# cut, I would add more alcohol and see what happens. Everclear if you can get some.

There's always a little residue that doesn't dissolve, I've always thought is it's just some bug poop, so I filter it before use. DNA is OK, but I feel other things work better. Mohawk shellac reducer works well for me. I've also used 99% isopropyl as well as EverClear, but that's kind of expensive.

If none of that helps, then yeah, you need to buy some new shellac. It never hurts to use fresh anyway. I get mine mostly from Shellac.net, but I've also gotten it off Amazon.

 

[Westpacx3]

Couple things to know:

First, is this waxed or dewaxed? IIRC dewaxed shellac lasts a long time, but I don't know about 19 years. I've thought waxed shellac degrades much faster, but I never use it.

Second, what cut? If you're doing a 3# cut, I would add more alcohol and see what happens. Everclear if you can get some.

There's always a little residue that doesn't dissolve, I've always thought is it's just some bug poop, so I filter it before use. DNA is OK, but I feel other things work better. Mohawk shellac reducer works well for me. I've also used 99% isopropyl as well as EverClear, but that's kind of expensive.

If none of that helps, then yeah, you need to buy some new shellac. It never hurts to use fresh anyway. I get mine mostly from Shellac.net, but I've also gotten it off Amazon.

Thanks,

Have you ever used the ethanol i mentioned in the OP. Its 20.00 qt. Not sure if that's expensive or not.

As for cut, I forgot. When it was partially dissolving I added more DNA just to see if it helped, since this is an experiment to see if these flakes work as I was running out of canned shellac.

Ill need to see if it was waxed or not. It was not relevant at the time but is now for thia conversation.


As an aside, what colors have you used on what woods?

 

[demondeacon]

I am no finishing expert, and I have read many posts on here singing the virtues of mixing one's own shellac from flakes, but after reading this thread, I will continue to just buy Zinsser ready-made shellac. I am unconvinced that the rumored virtues overcome the mess, patience and time required when starting with flakes. Not to mention the risk of working with highly flamable materials. Good luck, Jim.

 

[Westpacx3]

I am no finishing expert, and I have read many posts on here singing the virtues of mixing one's own shellac from flakes, but after reading this thread, I will continue to just buy Zinsser ready-made shellac. I am unconvinced that the rumored virtues overcome the mess, patience and time required when starting with flakes. Not to mention the risk of working with highly flamable materials. Good luck, Jim.

Thanks. I juat happened have been given these so I. Playing with it for now as I seek the instruction.

In my minds eye I could see the use of some of the colors or lack of in the case of blonde etc. However, I have not looked to see if these other colors can be obtained in liquid form and maybe even using the dyes would be easier.

What method are you using to apply with. Im progressing up from cheap brushes and hoping to find something less than the 65.00 brushes. I tried the rubber or dabbing method. I forgot what it was called, but had issues with my process or patience. Lol

 

[Graywolf]

May I suggest this video on applying shellac
French Polish the Fad

 

[Westpacx3]

May I suggest this video on applying shellac
French Polish the Fad

Thanks. I've seen your work with this method. I believed you would be considered skilled labor...

 

[Graywolf]

Skilled something , this is an easy skill to learn. The up side is Shellac is pretty forgiving to work with.

 

[Westpacx3]

Skilled something , this is an easy skill to learn. The up side is Shellac is pretty forgiving to work with.

Ill give that process another shot. It always just seemed to dry and drag on my but maybe that's just skill level and proper mix and drying time between coats.

Ill pull the video up.

Thx

 

[Oka]

Like others said, just but a small blender I have a Hamilton I paid 10-11 bucks for, pretty useless as a real blender but great for making flakes into powder, just follow Graywolf's posting.

One other thing limit to 2 lb cut as the max concentration until you are more familiar with the process.