Hi Dale Try this Let's reduce the mix proportionally by dividing both the shellac and the alcohol to a manageable amount. Mix 2 ounces of shellac flakes (1 cup) into 1 pint of alcohol. Since 1 gallon equals 8 pints of alcohol, and 16 ounces of shellac flakes equals 1 pound, our 2 pound cut is created by mixing 4 ounces of shellac into 1 pint of alcohol. It's important to note that, at this point, we won't be too concerned about the exactness of the proportions since it is not that critical to the quality of the final mixture.
You may mix the shellac flakes together and let them sit for 24 hours until they are throughly dissolved, or you can prepare the shellac for almost immediate use by grinding the shellac flakes into a fine powder with a coffee grinder or blender. The powder will dissolve into the alcohol many times faster than the solid flakes. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dale Leavens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 12:01 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Dissolving shellac > Thanks Ray, > > I need something other than weight to calculate the amount of shellac > flakes to use. > > There is something odd here. For some reason google won't work. I called a > friend not far from here, google works on her computer. All I get is that > page not found, server may be experiencing difficulty ... message. > > I went through the Internet Exploder settings thinking I might have got > something set or blocked but I don't see anything. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Ray Boyce > To: [email protected] > Sent: Saturday, February 23, 2008 7:20 PM > Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Dissolving shellac > > > Hi Dale > I hope this helps. > balance of the alcohol. The consistency of shellac is > determined by "cut". A 3 lb. cut would be 3 lbs. of shellac > flakes per one gallon of high quality Denatured Alcohol > solvent. If you have never worked with shellac before it is > recommended that you start with a light consistency, > preferably about a 1 lb. cut (1 lb. of flake to 1 Gal.; > -- or [1/4 lb. in a Qt.] of Denatured Alcohol). > To mix 1 pint of 1 Lb. cut liquid shellac use approximately > a 2:16 ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol (2 oz. of shellac flakes > dissolved in 16 oz. of alcohol). Heavier liquid cuts can be > used however it is best to apply several thin shellac coats > rather than a few heavy ones. > After the shellac is fully dissolved, it should be strained > through a fine mesh cheese cloth to remove any impurities. > Shellac is made from the lac bug and a few bits of bug > carcass are often left particularly in Seed Lac. Before the > liquid shellac is used, it should be shaken or stirred > thoroughly and allowed to stand for a few hours. After > dissolving, the different flake colours may be intermixed > to obtain various colours or shades of shellac. > Application > (For padding application see: French Polishing information) > When applying as an undercoater prior to other finishes use > a dewaxed shellac. Shellac should be applied in long strokes > with the grain. On larger projects or in hot weather a little > shellac retarder will help flowout and minimize brushstrokes. > Dip a good natural bristle brush about half way into the > shellac and gently clear excess shellac against the side of the > container, this gives a reasonably filled brush for full strokes > without incorporating air in the shellac. Shellac should be > sanded between coats. Allow each coat to dry thoroughly. If > the shellac is dry, sanding will produce a fine powder on the > surface. If the shellac is not dry it will be somewhat tacky to > sand and the paper will clog. After sanding, wipe the piece > thoroughly with a tack cloth and recoat. Depending upon > temperature and humidity conditions, allow from two to four > hours drying for each coat. Some craftsmen prefer to do their > finish sanding of the raw wood after first giving it a coat of > shellac since this stiffens the wood fibers and allows any > rough portions to be fully sanded off. > After the desired number of coats has been applied, the > finish can be rubbed with LIBERON #0000 oil free & long > stranded Steel Wool or fine pumice with paraffin oil. > Rubbing should always be done with the grain. 48 - 96 hours > after the final rubbing, to protect your shellac finish, apply a > thin coat of LIBERON Black Bison paste wax. Allow the > wax to dry completely and buff with a soft cotton cloth. > LIBERON / Star Wood Finish Supply, P.O. Box 86, Mendocino, CA 95460 . > 707-962-9480 > Restoration, Repair, & Finishing Supplies > Shellac Flake > 8/19/00 > Seed Lac: > Warm Neutral Brown, unprocessed, excellent > for older antique restorations and repairs. > Button Lac: (Genuine Buttons) > Golden Light Brownish Amber on darker > woods - least refined, used on old antiques. > Garnet Lac: > Deep Rich Brownish with a warm cast. > Dewaxed Garnet: > Deep Rich Brown-Red cast. > Lemon Yellow / Orange: > general purpose light yellow creamy colour. > Dewaxed Lemon Yellow: > general purpose rich yellow-orange colour. > BLONDE Dewaxed: > Light Pale Transparency. > PLATINA Dewaxed > Extra LITE Pale Platinum Blonde Transparent. > Needed for mixing: > high grade Denatured Alcohol. > To Aid Brushing: > Shellac Retarder to slow drying > & to help eliminate brushmarks. > Shellac is an excellent quick drying, non waterproof, finish. > Shellac requires experience in order to be able to use it to its > full potential. Flake form allows fresh quality shellac to be > prepared and avoid waste. Use shellac to seal in sap, resin, > grease or oil marks after cleaning and prior to painting or > lacquering. Thinned shellac makes an excellent stain barrier > coat or hold out coat especially on soft woods and difficult or > end grain prior to staining. Test all mixed shellac for drying > if several months old. If the surface stays tacky after 8 hours > and does not sand freely without gumming, the shellac is old > and will not dry and must be discarded. > 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. > 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 > WFS > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dale Leavens" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2008 10:25 AM > Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Dissolving shellac > > > Hi, > > > > Sorry for cross posting to the list and to Larry however I need a > little > > assistance. > > > > I want to make up a two pound cut of dark garnet shellac. Usually you > > would measure out the volume of alcohol and the weight of shellac > flakes > > however I don't have a suitable scale or the time to acquire one or the > > inclination come to that. I only want about a cup of the solution, OK, > > that math isn't beyond me but does anyone know volume by weight of > shellac > > flakes? > > > > I seem remember a Web site and it might even be bookmarked on my sick > > computer which is presently at the Doctor and for some reason google > isn't > > working here today. > > > > I have an idea that 2 fl.oz. of flakes might be right but somehow that > is > > too close to the right weight in ounces which makes me suspicious. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Hopefully google will come back soon, I can't imagine why it isn't > working > > but all I get is one of those "page cannot be found" messages. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.9/1294 - Release Date: > 2/22/2008 > 6:39 PM > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.9/1294 - Release Date: > 2/22/2008 6:39 PM > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.20.9/1294 - Release Date: 2/22/2008 6:39 PM
