Shellac

Ray · 2011-07-11T18:31:01+00:00

Look what I found http://www.shellac.net/ I plan to order from them in the not too distant future so if anyone is interested give me a shout. Seem to be quit...

Shellac

Attila

Try Hardware center along Malibongwe Drive, Julian and his brothers has been in this business since I was a kid

They are woodworking specialist suppliers and lots of stuff you will not find anywhere else

http://www.hardwarecentre.co.za/web/

Wizard

I bought some blonde shellac flakes today at Hardware Centre in Cape Town.
Want to experiment.
I can't find denatured alcohol anywhere; but apparently methylated spirits will work.
(meths is alcohol denatured with methanol).

Will report on progress.

AlanRatcliffe

The problem with meths is the colourant. Just ask your local pharmacy to get you any high proof alcohol - ethyl or methyl. You'll pay more as it will be medical grade, but at least it is available.

Wizard

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: The problem with meths is the colourant. Just ask your local pharmacy to get you any high proof alcohol - ethyl or methyl. You'll pay more as it will be medical grade, but at least it is available.

Thanks. Will try that.

While you are being so usually useful, do you know where I can find "pure turpentine".
i.e. the stuff they get from pine trees.

And not mineral turpentine / white spirits
i.e. the stuff they get as a castoff from petrol making.

Wanting to make my own beeswax polish by mixing beeswax and "pure" turpentine.

Wizard

90% proof alcohol at the pharmacy is 140 ront for 500ml.
"Lacquer thinners" at the hardware is 23 ront for 750ml.
Bought some of the latter. Let's see if it works.

I understand that the role of the thinners is to dissolve the shellac, then evaporate away completely leaving only the shellac behind.

AlanRatcliffe

Shellac doesn't dissolve in thinners (I've tried). You'd get better results from a good vodka. ?

No idea on pure turps either.

Ray

You can get uncolored meths. At hardware center they used to have some but I havent been there for a long while. otherwise make some stasie meths with bread. Now that you mention the vodka, i tried but with cane spirit. made me awful constipated though.

Wizard

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Shellac doesn't dissolve in thinners (I've tried). You'd get better results from a good vodka. ?

No idea on pure turps either.

I got some meths too.
Apparently filtering it with brown bread removes the color.
:roflmao:

Wizard

I've been on a mission to make my own beeswax wood polish and shellac finish.

Quite hard!

I have succeeded on the beeswax front.
Sourced a bunch of beeswax from the HoneyBee Foundation.
Parow Road in Maitland.
It goes for 180 ZAR per kg.
I bought nearly a kg of that.
Had great fun melting it down and putting it into various moulds.

Mixed a batch with olive oil.
Turns out to be a really nice "wet" beeswax oil; similar I suppose to Dubbin.
Nice if you want a permanently tacky finish; which is actually useful for some things.

Eventually found a source of "real" turpentine.
Which smells so nice you want to drink it.
http://www.pronature.co.za/pro_nature_exterior_turps.php

Busy making my first batch of turpentine based beeswax polish which, I believe, will dry.

Also just saw from the same supplier something called "shellac thinner" and "shellac polish" which might be worth a try.
Noteworthy that they have a guitar picture.
And it's all green and lovely and healthy and good.
http://www.pronature.co.za/pro_nature_interior_shellac.php

Chocklit_Thunda

Speaking of shellac, is it a good enough finish for a maple neck? Or would I have to spray it with nitro or something?

Wizard

Found some cheap denatured alcohol!
Hope it works for shellac.

Got 2l of "Firepod eco fuel" for 100 ZAR.

The stuff they use for those trendy little fires.

makepeace

let us know how it works! also looking for some denatured alc to finish my tele.

MikeM

It's usually quite a thin finish. Enough coats and it'll be reasonably sealed. Just make sure to get enough material on.

makepeace

by the way guys, found a supplier for denatured alcohol in CT for all of you dabbling in the art of shellac. http://www.scienceworld.co.za/. R130 odd for 2.5L of 95% science grade denat. they're in Epping.

Wizard

makepeace wrote: by the way guys, found a supplier for denatured alcohol in CT for all of you dabbling in the art of shellac. http://www.scienceworld.co.za/. R130 odd for 2.5L of 95% science grade denat. they're in Epping.

Good to know!

AlanRatcliffe

Brilliant! Thanks!

Wizard

I've read that one should grind up the shellac flakes before popping them into alcohol.
What's the best practical way to do this grinding?
Some have recommended coffee grinders. ??? (how will the coffee taste after that?)
Pestle & mortar?
Other?

AlanRatcliffe

Yeah - makes it dissolve much quicker if you grind it (I often use button shellac, not flakes, and that's ten times worse). I use a mortar and pestle.