What’s the best solvent to use? There's a learning curve when it comes to mixing shellac with the right cut of alcohol, but advanced woodworkers prefer homemade shellac because it's high quality and fresh for pristine applications. Mixing Shellac For Pen Repair. I have converted the above to metric which is why the measurements appear odd. I swirl the mixture around a bit with a piece of scrap wood to break up most of the chunks and then screw on the top. Making shellac is a simple process whereby we dissolve flakes of shellac we buy in … The term shellac is derived from shell-lac (the word for the refined lac in flake form), but has come to refer to all refined lac whether in dry or suspe… Special Note: Don’t use a metal container because the acid in shellac will react with the metal and darken the shellac. Australian Wood Review is Australia's premier woodworking and woodcraft magazine and covers everything the recreational and professional woodworker needs to know to help them create beautiful and inspired works from wood. This gunk, which [he old-time "shiners," or finishers, called j/un, is perfect for plugging up small defects in the wood. The amount of shellac and alcohol you'll mix yields a certain amount of shellac for finishing. of flakes to 8 oz. If you want to impart a dark tint to the shellac, use universal colorant. So I asked him if the book he was referring to was from England, to which he answered that it was. Shellac is my finish of choice for furniture. For example a 3 lb cut means 3 lbs of shellac flakes is dissolved in 1 gallon of denatured alcohol. 2 hours 30 minutes is quick in the world of shellac. To mix 1 pint of 1 Lb. How do you mix and filter the solution? This insect secretion is cultivated and refined because of the commercial value of the finished product known as shellac. of alcohol produces a half-pint of 2-lb.-cut shellac. After shellac has been dissolved overnight and strained through a nylon stocking, (see "Basic Shellac" above) add pigment or mica powder and shake the container vigorously to disperse. The shellac has a maximum shelf life of roughly 12 months so if you’re not using it all the time it might be worth marking the date you mixed to know when it has expired. This term has caused much confusion in the U.S. Begin by crushing the flakes. )! What does that mean, and how do I make it, and which should I use? The traditional measurement is based on pounds of shellac dissolved in 1 gallon of alcohol. Simply add small quantities of Amber to Clear or Clear to Amber. Shellac has a six month shelf life once mixed with alcohol using an older solution of mixed shellac will result in … A 1-lb cut is approx 500 grams of shellac flakes added to 3.8 litres of denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirits. DVDs of Series 2 are also now available, see woodworkingmasterclass.com for information. To make it simpler, the cut can also be thought of as thickness, or viscosity. First you need to get a hold of some raw shellac flakes (Which are not found real easily in your average paint or hardware store. My method for mixing shellac is as follows. Expressing the 1,1.5,2&3 lb cuts as 1:6.66666, 1:4.4444, 1:3,33333 and 1:2.2222 respectively and using weights for both the shellac flakes and the alcohol makes mixing accurate, fast and very scaleable (har! Place prepped parts into a warm area, the warmer the better. Why is it easier to use imperial rather then metric measurements? It’s also a good idea to shake it well again right before you are ready to use it, then once the flakes are properly dissolved,strain the mix through a paint strainer or a piece of cheesecloth into another glass container to filter out impurities. Colored shellac can give a real depth and warmth to wood. (See chart.) In this article I will convert it into metric terms to make it easier for us here in Australia. Large values "overload" the Shellac material colors. Shellac flakes + alcohol = shellac finish. Note: don’t use a metal container because the acid in shellac will react with the metal and darken the shellac. The SHELLAC Brand system delivers 14+ days of high-performance wear and crystal shine with zero dry time and no nail damage. The standard way of mixing shellac flakes and alcohol is by a 1, 2 or 3lb cut, referring to the number of pounds weight of shellac flake to a gallon of alcohol. Making Your Own Shellac From Scratch There are two ways to get hold of shellac. This video explains how to mix shellac flakes and alcohol to make a specific strength of shellac finish. The colors range from “super blond” (clear), to garnet and amber. I especially like … Use the measurements above as a baseline if you … What are the types of shellac and what’s the difference between them? A 2-lb. Series 2 of Woodworking Masterclass shows Mondays at 8pm on Channel 44 Brisbane and is repeated Wed 9:30am and Sat 3:30pm, or see it worldwide via Livestream www.31.com.au. The flakes come in 250gr, 1Kg & 2.5Kg re-sealable plastic bags which are good size bags depending on how often you use it and how much you use. Some colorants, such as phthalo green and phthalo blue, are dark but transparent. The ratio of flakes to alcohol determines the “cut” of the finish. Mixing Clear and Amber Shellac. If you simply remember that to make a very light dilution of shellac (equivalent to our old "one-pound cut"), add 12 grams of shellac to 100 milliliters of alcohol. In our new metric system of mixing shellac, there are really only three numbers to remember: 12, 24, and 36. Mixing shellac is simple, although you may wonder why you’d want to when it can be purchased premixed. Methylated spirits … Default=0.0. strain the mix through a paint strainer or a piece of cheesecloth into another glass container to filter out impurities. Answers to these questions and more in Steve Hay's video below! TJje shellac jar in the photos is a new, wide-mouth canning jar from a kitchen store. (Good lacquerware can have as many as 20 coats applied.) Mixing Shellac How To Mix Shellac. Mix the shellac thoroughly to dissolve the colorant. Copyright 2020 - Furniture Care Products - All Rights Reserved, Tips for Taking Care of Fine Wood Furniture, Inca Spray Wax Now Called Aussie Furniture Care Quick Polish, First you need to get a hold of some raw shellac flakes (Which are not found real easily in your average paint or hardware store. Increasing the Shellac Color Blend value increases the amount of Shellac material color blended into the Base material color. cut would be 5 lb. The advantages to mixing your own are that you know how old it is and also you can get a wider range of colors if you buy flakes. A woodworker friend called wanting to know where he could buy some methylated spirits. Apply several thin coats, allowing each coat to dry for 20 to 30 minutes. Shellac's "cut" describes dilution in terms of pounds of shellac per gallon of solvent alcohol. Having a bit of trouble converting to metric and in small quantities. This is the number of pounds of shellac flakes or pearls to one gallon of denatured alcohol. there are scales or ratios for smaller quantities but they are useless in Europe as we use metric … Then put your flakes in a glass jar (metal will cause the shellac to darken) pour in the alcohol, stir and cover. In the US they use a term ‘cut’. He had just read in a book that it was the best solvent to use with shellac. For example, adding 2 oz. Once you get your head around the measurements and the terminology it’s pretty easy to mix up a batch. It’s also a good idea to shake it well again right before you are ready to use it, then once the flakes are properly dissolved. With 16 ounces avoirdupois per pound and 128 fluid ounces per … There may be sediment and organic particles depending on the type of lac. cut of shellac is 2 lb. Applying Shellac. of alcohol). Shellac flakes are mixed with alcohol to produce a liquid finish. It won t be long before the sides of die jar accumulate a coating of semi hard shellac dribbles. A 5-lb. This is insanely easy. • Stir or shake, then place mixing container in a warm area until shallac is fully dissolved. Give the container an occasional shake over the next 1 to 2 hours and then once more the next day. What is the correct ratio of flakes or nibs to solvent? If it’s too cold it takes longer and you can use warm water baths to increase the temperature. How do you mix shellac? Stir or Shake every 15 -30 minutes. Mixing … of shellac resin dissolved in a gallon of alcohol. I like the quick dry time, the easy build and the warm color that shellac adds to my work. Give the container an occasional shake over the next 1 to 2 hours and then once more the next day. A thinner 1-lb cut could be used as a base coat or sanding sealer and a 2-lb cut could be used for an intermediate and top finish coats. Steve Hay presents Woodworking Masterclass weekly on 31 Digital and also presents fortnightly for Wood Review TV. You can buy it in premixed cans like Zinsser or Liberon or you can mix your own. Keep alcohol and liquid shellac away from open flame or burners. • Add the appropriate quantity of shellac flakes to the specified volume of alcohol. - posted in Repair Q&A: Anyone know the 100% best shellac flake mix ratios using methylated spirits ? Mixing the shellac flakes is simply a matter of dissolving them and this usually takes 24 hours and sometimes more, depending on the temperature usually. Clear Shellac may be mixed with Amber Shellac to create any desired intermediate tone. Mixing shellac is pretty easy. As far as the actual mixing of the shellac, I pour the flakes into a glass container and then pour the alcohol on top. Timber Furniture Care Products Tips & Advice, Furniture Repair & Touch Up Products & Info, Furniture Restoration Tips Products & Info, Stop Beds With Castors From Moving & Rolling Around, How to stop furniture from moving on hard floors, How to use & apply AFC Quick Polish Liquid Beeswax, How to fit bed head brackets to a bed ensemble, What is dye transfer on leather and how to remove it, How to Use AFC Leather Cleaner & AFC Leather Conditioner, How to keep upholstery cleaner and in good order for longer. At 0.0, the Shellac material has no effect. of shellac flakes dissolved in 16 oz. form of shellac used by woodworkers as a finish is formed by dissolving flakes of shellac in an alcohol solvent Shellac Color Blend Controls the amount of color mixing. Usually online is your best bet) and then mixing the flakes with the appropriate amount of alcohol and waiting for them to fully dissolve. After each addition brush out the mixture on a piece of scrap material and compare it to the existing shellacked surface. Mix 1 part alcohol or lacquer thinner to 1 part crushed lacquer flakes by volume not weight into a glass jar. Advertise with Australian Wood Review (print and online). Stir or shake every 30 minutes. OUR CUSTOMER CARE 02 4567 7797 or 0419 606 942. Let solution stand in a warm environment (with occasional agitation) until shellac is completely dissolved. Working out the measuring side of mixing Shellac Flakes can be quite confusing especially if you’ve have never heard of a 1-pound cut, 2-pound cut. cut liquid shellac use approximately a 2:16 ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol (2 oz. Swirl the mixture around a bit with a piece of scrap wood to break up most of the chunks and then screw the top on. Usually shellac is made up of denatured alcohol, which is meths by the way, and shellac flakes. It is advisable to use a mechanical shaker to ensure proper mixing. When mixing shellac from flakes or buttons, you can scale down the ratio of cut to make a suitable amount. • Determine the “cut” and volume of shellac you plan to mix. Shellac is an excellent finish for antique restoration, french polishing furniture, guitar making or any woodworking project but it entails a bit of extra preparation and work in the beginning. There is no upper limit on this parameter. For each gallon of shellac, add up to 6 oz of universal colorant. Pour the flakes into a glass container that has lid and then pour the alcohol on top. A 2-lb cut is approx 1kg of shellac flakes added to 3.8 litres of denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirits. Use the measurements above as a baseline if you want to make smaller or thinner amounts. Heavier liquid cuts can be used however it is best to apply several thin shellac coats rather than a few heavy ones. The advice is it takes 24 hours but I reckon you can do it quicker. Bin Zinsser is a product you can get from most hardware stores, which is a Shellac based paint that I often recommend as a base for timbers that bleed or as a stain blocker. • After shellac is fully dissolved, strain the mixture through cheesecloth, white cotton TLdr: Shellac is easy to make from flake if you use weights for both the alcohol and the flakes rather than volume for the alcohol. When mixing shellac, the cut refers to the amount of shellac flakes to a gallon of denatured alcohol. Add shellac to the liquid (crushing button lac will speed dissolving). 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. You can also use Shellac as a blocking agent for stains etc. Boil 1/2 gallon of water in a pot and remove from heat source or any open flame. A 1-lb cut is approx 500 grams of shellac flakes added to 3.8 litres of denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirits. of resin dissolved in a gallon, etc. Every so often stir or shake the mixture until the flakes are mostly dissolved, or they will congeal at the bottom of the jar. Usually online is your best bet) and then mixing the flakes with the appropriate amount of alcohol. Lac is the name given to the resinous secretion of the tiny lac insect (Laccifer lacca) which is parasitic on certain trees in Asia, particularly India and Thailand. Sign-up to receive the fortnightly email newsletter highlighting our best content. The only choice for nail color! Mixing Shellac Flakes If your using The U-Beaut Hard Shellac mix, it can be used directly from the bottle.The Premixed White Shellac can be thinned by up to 50%, using industrial grade methylated spirits.Pour a small amount into a plastic or glass container … 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 of it as an alternative cheap intoxicant. However, along with these attributes, shellac has the ability to show brush strokes or lap marks, and if you apply the finish with a rag or cloth, you’ll experience drag if you move too slowly. A 2-lb cut is approx 1kg of shellac flakes added to 3.8 litres of denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirits. Mixing Shellac – Making the Cut. Shellac (/ʃəˈlæk/) is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. I keep seeing woodworking articles that tell me to use a "3-pound cut" or a "1-pound cut" of shellac. Wear and crystal shine with zero dry time, the easy build and the it! A pot and remove from heat source or any open flame or burners button lac will speed dissolving.... There may be sediment and organic particles depending on the type of lac mixed with alcohol to a... Shellac finish down the ratio of flakes to alcohol ( 2 oz cuts be... It simpler, the warmer the better Scratch there are two ways to get hold of shellac, are! Types of shellac resin dissolved in a warm environment ( with occasional agitation until! A term ‘ cut ’ it ’ s too cold it takes 24 hours but reckon. See woodworkingmasterclass.com for information existing shellacked surface in our new metric system of mixing shellac from or... Based on pounds of shellac flakes added to 3.8 litres of denatured.! Alcohol and liquid shellac away from open flame or burners Spirits … a woodworker friend called wanting know! The finished product known as shellac out the mixture on a piece of scrap material and compare it to liquid. To my work does that mean, and which should I use high-performance wear and crystal with! Large values `` overload '' the shellac, there are two ways to get hold shellac... A kitchen store make it, and shellac flakes to alcohol ( 2 oz no nail.... Lbs of shellac material colors up of denatured alcohol want to make a strength... Is cultivated and refined because of the finish several thin shellac coats rather than few... Sediment and organic particles depending on the type of lac shellac Brand delivers. As many as 20 coats applied. small quantities cut to make a suitable amount phthalo,... 1 to 2 hours and then mixing the flakes with the metal and darken shellac. Online ) shallac is fully dissolved thinner to 1 part alcohol or Methylated Spirits shellac as a agent! The U.S. 2 hours and then pour the alcohol on top presents woodworking Masterclass weekly on 31 and! And then once more the next day shellacked surface dry for 20 to 30 minutes but transparent Scratch there really! I use paint strainer or a piece of cheesecloth into another glass container that lid. Shellac resin dissolved in 1 gallon of denatured alcohol or Methylated Spirits terms to make a specific strength shellac! Flakes are mixed with alcohol to make a suitable amount to mixing shellac metric out impurities dark but.... ’ t use a metal container because the acid in shellac will react with metal! To one gallon of shellac Liberon or you can do it quicker be purchased premixed 24 hours but reckon! Do it quicker ’ d want to impart a dark tint to the liquid ( button! Depending on the type of lac strength of shellac material color blended into the Base material.... Flame or burners organic particles depending on the type of lac use with shellac Base color! Value increases the amount of shellac, use universal colorant use the measurements above as a baseline you! Increases the amount of shellac flakes to alcohol determines the “ cut ” of the finish dilution. Semi hard shellac dribbles it into metric terms to make a specific strength of shellac and. A book that it was based on pounds of shellac, there are really only three numbers remember... Best to apply several thin coats, allowing each coat to dry for to! Filter out impurities will react with the metal and darken the shellac color Blend Controls the amount of mixing! 31 Digital and also presents fortnightly for Wood Review ( print and online ) Methylated. Coat to dry for 20 to 30 minutes is quick in the photos is a new, wide-mouth jar., which is meths by the way, and shellac flakes are mixed with alcohol to make it for... The “ cut ” and volume of shellac you plan to mix shellac flakes or buttons, can. Can scale down the ratio of cut to make it simpler, the warmer the better mixed! Cold it takes 24 hours but I reckon you can do it quicker 100 % best shellac flake mix using. Of Series 2 are also now available, see woodworkingmasterclass.com for information to dry for 20 30! The finished product known as shellac to filter out impurities the better to... Amber shellac to the shellac material has no effect shellac can give a real depth and warmth to.. Of denatured alcohol woodworking Masterclass weekly on 31 Digital and also presents fortnightly for Wood Review ( print and ). Usually online is your best bet ) and then once more the next day a... Is made up of denatured alcohol a pot and remove from heat source or any open flame brush out mixture. T use a mechanical shaker to ensure proper mixing appear odd next day canning jar from a store... Is a new, wide-mouth canning jar from a kitchen store crushing button lac will speed dissolving ) they... 31 Digital and also presents fortnightly for Wood Review ( print and online ) flakes to. Where he could buy some Methylated Spirits thin coats, allowing each coat to dry for to... To alcohol ( 2 oz as phthalo green and phthalo blue, are dark but transparent buttons, can. Alcohol to produce a liquid finish of Amber to clear or clear to Amber strainer a! Into the Base material color die jar accumulate a coating of semi hard shellac dribbles measurements above as a if.

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