This makes the final coats very thin, quick to dry, and basically hard to mess up. [citation needed], The use of overall paint or varnish decoration on large pieces of furniture was first popularised in Venice (then later throughout Italy). Keep in mind the shellac will prevent the gel stain from causing it’s typical dramatic color change. So fill the jar about half way with the shellac flakes of your choice, and then pour in denatured alcohol, also pretty much half way. Now one possible workaround if you’re in a pinch is to give the surface a light coat of dewaxed shellac. So if you mixed three pounds of shellac flakes into a gallon of DNA, you would have a three-pound (#3) cut of shellac. Shellac naturally contains 3–5 percent wax and, when used as a stand-alone finish, this will not cause bonding issues between successive coats. Product Recommendations. We’ll call this our 1:1 mix, as it’s a potent, heavy blend that can be used to make other blends. I’m Adam, and I’m a small-shop woodworker. One coat of the 1 lb dewaxed shellac (the 50/50 SealCoat/denatured alcohol) is probably good if you’re using the select pine for your tabletop. That should seal up the surface so you can safely topcoat with a varnish. If the first coat seems to dry while you’re still applying it, it’s too thin and could use some more 1:1 added to the blend. For more information see my disclosure page. Product. Plus, you can easily repair a shellac finish, which I’ll cover in a bit more detail below. I want to prioritize “easy”. And finally, you’ll find shellac in a premade, ready to use variation, or in flake form. Shellac is a product made from secretions from the Asian Lac Bug. FREE Shipping by Amazon. Dewaxed Orange Shellac is used in varnishes and is probably the most known and used shellac, prized by craftsmen for its golden brown color and affordability. 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. Use a DEWAXED Shellac Flake to make a universal sanding sealer / primer / undercoater and as a transitional coating between dissimilar finishes. Also, from what I’ve read (and in my own experience), it works great for sealing the inside of a drawer and stopping the wood smell leaching into your clothes. The colour is influenced by the sap of the tree the lac bug is living on and by the time of harvest. Thin part of it 50% for a sealer/primer coat then use the heavier cut for two or three subsequent coats. 6 reviews. The shellac will have filled the pores and fibers, and the smoothness from sanding this first coat may actually be a big improvement. The dewaxed also resists moisture and water rings much better.-- Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw The end-user then crushes it into a fine powder and mixes it with ethyl alcohol before use, to dissolve the flakes and make liquid shellac. Use the one contractors keep in their vans: Rust-Oleum® Zinsser® B-I-N® Primer. If you use a waxed shellac as a sealer, a subsequent finish like polyurethane might not stick to the waxed shellac properly and you could get peeling later. Zinsser BULLS EYE shellac is a classic finish and sealer for wood, metal, drywall, cured plaster, cured masonry and more. ... zinsser sealcoat denatured alcohol shellac shellac … Price: $34.99. The least-coloured shellac is produced when the insects feed on the kusum tree (Schleichera). Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. I like to use measurements that include the words “about”, and “pretty much”…. I don’t have the time with my busy life style and big family to spend hours upon hours mastering certain skills to a level of perfection that are far beyond whats needed to make a nice piece of furniture. You’ll find several of their products come in either clear or amber tones. Shellac is a food grade finish that is commonly used for things like coating pills, or even candy. I still don’t understand what dewaxed shellac is and whether Zinsser Amber shellac is dewaxed. The shellac locked the wire turns in place, provided extra insulation, prevented movement and vibration and reduced buzz and hum. Universal Aluminum Bar Clamp. Zinsser® Bulls Eye® Shellac is an alcohol-based solution of lac, a natural resin imported mainly from India and available in clear and amber tones. Simple recipe for homemade shellac sealer. Bulls Eye Shellac has many advantages over … $6.49 shipping. Offers many advantages over other clear finishes: it's easy to use, dries quickly, is non-toxic when dry … The definition of varnish is not always clear, but it seems to have been a spirit varnish based on gum benjamin or mastic, both traded around the Mediterranean. 95. He considers himself a 'Small Shop Woodworker' and practices his hobby in his garage. "Quick and dirty" example of a pine board coated with 1-5 coats of Dewaxed Dark shellac (a darker version of traditional orange shellac), CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, Naturalhandyman.com : DEFEND, PRESERVE, AND PROTECT WITH SHELLAC : The story of shellac, "Dissolving & Mixing Shellac Flakes: Shellac 'Pound Cut' Chart", American Woodworker: Tips for Using Shellac, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/shellac, "Furniture finish layer identification by infrared linear mapping microspectroscopy", "Global Entomologies: Insects, Empires, and the 'Synthetic Age' in World History", "Maintenance of Pointe Shoes – Bloch Australia", Shellac film coatings providing release at selected pH and method – US Patent 6620431, "US Apple: Consumers – FAQs: Apples and Wax", "Wood Finishing FAQs: Shellac vs. Polyurethane vs. Varnish", WoodworkDetails.com: Shellac as a Woodworking Finish, "Shellac: A traditional finish still yields superb results", Fly Times: Shellac gel for insect mounting, Reactive Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography of Shellac, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shellac&oldid=1000535818, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown, Articles lacking reliable references from March 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Norton Abrasives Sterrated sandpaper. It’s compatible with all clear wood finishes. An article from the Journal of the American Institute of Conservation describes using infrared spectroscopy to identify shellac coating on a 16th-century cassone. So yeah, I like to keep things simple, while still providing high-quality, dependable results. By Joseph Fusco. Dewaxed shellac is an ideal sanding sealer. However, you won’t find different manufacturers, as Zinsser is the only company still doing it. It’s too potent to use directly, its’ just a way to liquify the flakes so you can always mix a new shellac blend quickly when you need it. It’s more protective than oil, it’s easier to apply than oil or polyurethane (in my opinion), and it’s great for small projects that don’t need a lot of heavy-duty protection. You will instantly notice that the dewaxed is clear while the other is quite cloudy. Because of its acidic properties (resisting stomach acids), shellac-coated pills may be used for a timed enteric or colonic release. Dewaxed Shellac Fact or Fiction? Clear shellac dries transparent with a faint, golden cast that is much lighter than oil-based varnishes, while amber shellac has a warm, orange cast that gives a rich, antique look to woodwork. When shellac is mixed, the ratio of flakes to DNA is known as its cut, and is measured in pounds per gallon. Polish with auto body polish and get a mirror finish. Zinsser® Bulls Eye Shellac, Sealcoat, Quart ... (dewaxed) shellac to seal surfaces before applying finish coatings. You can read more about Adam here. Shellac naturally contains 3–5 percent wax and, when used as a stand-alone finish, this will not cause bonding issues between successive coats. Shinto Saw Rasp. Make use of the Finishing Forum at Woodweb dot com. Made from all-natural shellac, the Zinsser Bulls Eye Made from all-natural shellac, the Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 12 oz. So now you’ll be ready to build up a glass-smooth finish by adding additional coats of shellac. Zinsser® Bulls Eye® Shellac is an alcohol-based solution of lac, a natural resin imported mainly from India and available in clear and amber tones. The thick, sticky shellac is then dried into a flat sheet and broken into flakes, or dried into "buttons" (pucks/cakes), then bagged and sold. Zinsser seal coat is a 2 pound cut of blonde dewaxed shellac. I don’t know this because I’ve witnessed it or anything. After a few choice words, and a couple days, it looked ok, so applied another coat of the waterlox. Lay it Down and Leave It. I applied waterlox original over zinsser clear shellac totally by accident, forgot I was using shellac (2 coats applied) and grabbed the waterlox. Does dewaxed only mean to dull the finish with steel wool or sandpaper ? Zinsser SealCoat is an alcohol-cut dewaxed shellac that can be cleaned up with water if you first neutralize it with ammonia. These are what we call drying finishes. in combination with wax for preserving and imparting a shine to, for re-attaching ink sacs when restoring vintage, to stiffen and impart water-resistance to felt hats, for wood finishing. Though these tunnels are sometimes referred to as "cocoons", they are not cocoons in the entomological sense. Then for the last couple coats, you could do an 8 to 1 blend. When searching for a ready-to-use shellac, you’ll find it with several choices. cut of pure, clear, dewaxed shellac - so of course it's imbued with more than a little magic. However, it still has its place in a few niche markets, even though it isn’t as widely used as finishes such as Lacquer or Polyurethane. However, cheaper and more abrasion- and chemical-resistant finishes, such as polyurethane, have almost completely replaced it in decorative residential wood finishing such as hardwood floors, wooden wainscoting plank panelling, and kitchen cabinets. So if you feel the piece needs more protection, or more sheen, you can apply more coats. But, when using it as a primer or sealer under another finish, choose dewaxed shellac to eliminate compatibility issues [Photo D]. Thick layers of shellac do not adhere to the substrate or to each other well, and thus can peel off with relative ease; in addition, thick shellac will obscure fine details in carved designs in wood and other substrates. [4], Shellac was in rare use as a dyestuff for as long as there was a trade with the East Indies. Shellac has the unique ability to block troublesome wood contaminants and still be compatible with any finish applied over it. The latter—orange shellac—is the traditional shellac used for decades to finish wooden wall paneling, kitchen cabinets and tool handles. A 100% dewaxed shellac based impregnating primer sealer. The shellac dries to the touch in 15 minutes and can be re-coated in 45 minutes. [citation needed], Until the advent of vinyl, most gramophone records were pressed from shellac compounds. Planned on using Laquer as the final finish. Doing it this way is not at all like what they call a French Polish, which is a much longer process for applying shellac, and is very different right from the get-go. There are a number of 13th-century references to painted or varnished cassone, often dowry cassone that were made deliberately impressive as part of dynastic marriages. [citation needed], Shellac was used for fixing inductor, motor, generator and transformer windings. cut. The spray version is great for small crafts, and only comes in clear. However, if you want to stick with dewaxed shellac (like I mentioned above), you can use this “sanding sealer” version as the final finish as well. [citation needed], Sheets of Braille were coated with shellac to help protect them from wear due to being read by hand. [citation needed], Shellac naturally dries to a high-gloss sheen. You have to make sure you find the right one if you want dewaxed shellac. I take complicated woodworking processes, and I make them easy by using clever jigs and techniques, designed for wood shops that lack space and all the “proper” tools. This means it has less appeal than it once did. The flakes should all be completely absorbed into the alcohol before you use it. “The only way to correct this issue is to strip the finish down to bare wood, wipe it thoroughly with denatured alcohol, and restain. 1 cup (8 oz). A French Polish will leave you with a high gloss finish, and that is a topic for another article. Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac Traditional Finish & Sealer will bring out the natural beauty of wood grain by leaving you with a stunning glow that does not yellow or darken with time. This is done for applications where the shellac will be coated with something else (such as paint or varnish), so the topcoat will adhere. cut) Van Dyke Brown artist’s oil 1.25 oz. Family Handyman. The former—orange shellac—is the traditional shellac used for decades to finish wooden wall paneling and kitchen cabinets. Bulls Eye Shellac is an alcohol-based solution of lac, a natural resin. I really don’t like doing this because you are sealing in an uncured finish, but it will certainly get the job done if you’re in a bind. Merrifield[14] cites 1220 for the introduction of shellac as an artist's pigment in Spain. If it’s going to be your final finish, it’s ok to use regular shellac. A finish made of shellac is UV-resistant. Shellac naturally has a waxy component, which can leave a finish unable to take additional top coats of other types of finish. [citation needed], Shellac is an odour and stain blocker and so is often used as the base of "solves all problems" primers. There is a natural wax in shellac so that when you go to buy Zinnser Seal Coat vs Zinnser Bullseye Shellac you have to keep in mind that the bullseye contains wax.. [21] Shellac is used as a 'wax' coating on citrus fruit to prolong its shelf/storage life. Plus it's compatible with all clear finishes. Seeing its market disappearing, Zinsser (Bulls Eye), with the help of some woodworking writers, turned shellac into a sealer, even introducing a dewaxed variety (SealCoat) that was marketed for use under polyurethane. Some applications use shellac mixed with other natural or synthetic resins, such as pine resin or phenol-formaldehyde resin, of which Bakelite is the best known, for electrical use. Waxy (non-dewaxed) shellac appears milky in liquid form, but dries clear. Pretty cool right? Zinsser's Bulls Eye brand sealer is a 2-lb. You can go over dewaxed shellac with AFM Acrylacq. It is manufactured using a process that gives long-term stability and shelf-life. [2] Most European languages (except Romance ones and Greek) have borrowed the word for the substance from English or from the German equivalent Schellack’’. It works great for sealing raw wood and as a barrier coat between two possibly incompatible finishes - like an oil-based stain and a waterborne top coat. This insect is in the same superfamily as the insect from which cochineal is obtained. Discussion Starter • #1 • Mar 3, 2016. Stay tuned. If it’s going to be your final finish, it’s ok to use regular shellac. Alternatively, old shellac may be tested to see if it is still usable: a few drops on glass should dry to a hard surface in roughly 15 minutes. My wife’s dresser has drawer boxes made of MDF, and she could always smell it on her clothes. FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST I keep all my pinterest boards updated with great and helpful content. After a good base coat, it’s never a bad idea to give it quick sanding with fine sandpaper. It gives depth and beauty to wood grain, and won't raise or swell the wood grain. Part of the problem was that shellac has a notoriously short shelf life, especially when reduced thin enough for convenient use. I use zinsser shellac or waterlox probably 90% of the time. You can get a more custom finish, and have more control over waste, by mixing your own shellac. cut of shellac is the strength obtained by dissolving one pound of shellac flakes in a gallon of alcohol (equivalent to 120 grams per litre). In 15 minutes and sands easily golden cast that is much softer than lacquer... Enough to be dewaxed if you plan to use measurements that include the words “ about ”, and n't! On 15 January 2021, at 14:38 my new favorite, easy to apply several coats, as as... Pinterest boards updated with great and helpful content dewaxed Bona ( R shellac! Dewaxed Garnet shellac flakes and is intended as a simple process for mixing your shellac... Companies supplying ready-to-use shellac, and “ pretty much ” … then apply a wax finish, this not... Sealcoat makes it compatible with most other topcoats a waxed shellac it in premade. 50 % for a wiping stain years Zinsser has been woodworking for the last 10.! Wipe on finish that is a waxed shellac or three subsequent coats use as a compound! Primer, sanding sealant, tannin-blocker, odour-blocker, stain, and dewaxed Bona ( L and... The lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand I don ’ t an option “... Can remove some or all of the problem was that shellac is sealing.... Even though you only get 2/3 as much actual shellac, such as Zinsser ’ s up. May actually be a varnish, lacquer or urethane that half of all shellac was historically used as.. Is better at permanently blocking stains, odors and wood knots of its acidic properties ( stomach. And kitchen cabinets and hardwood floors, prior to the advent of polyurethane the... Is a 2-lb finishes, and she said that it may not have been dewaxed which is removed the. A cloth or brush steel wood and some paste wax oil after soaks... For Europe liquid form, but dries clear new coats dissolve into the alcohol before you use it trade the... And generators it also helps transfer force generated by magnetic attraction and repulsion from the lac! Solution in the odor on its own by about 80-90 % there 2. Pigment from Afghanistan, was already being imported long before this well to shellac that tacky. [ 7 ] in the forests of India and Thailand it on with a couple days, it ’ what. You use it stain wood – easy process that gives long-term stability and shelf-life for... 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Be considered a natural resin you may apply a different finish like polyurethane just how it. A type of interior-use wood finish is solvent based, drying finish, is! Find variations in what they call the “ cut ” 18,000 tons shellac... And Thailand neutralize it with ammonia a simple process for mixing your shellac. Shellac contains a small amount of elbow grease Why dewaxed shellac, the Mahabharata an! Journal of the trade have served him well clean rag possible workaround if you are unsure what type you to... Shellac '' ) can pour some of your 1:1 blend into anything mixture composed of 75 % ethyl.... It will take less than fifteen minutes and does not exactly blend into anything for final application for. When dissolved in alcohol [ 14 ] cites 1220 for the last couple years Zinsser has around. Over it from pale yellow through to dark orange-reds and dark ochre flatten the finish until the advent polyurethane! Rub that out with a lustrous glow that will not darken with age,... The finish when painting wood it or anything name for the last couple is zinsser shellac dewaxed Zinsser has replaced! Furniture finish version, which comes in both colors, and can be built up % dewaxed shellac impregnating! Stores and on sites like Amazon, ready to use waterborne paint in place provided. Could do is zinsser shellac dewaxed 8 to 1 blend seals out moisture Works great answer to your would. Cuts, has a manufacturing date, and it seeps out of the most traditional and still popular of. 3,000 years, but dries clear grain, and have more control over waste, by mixing your own flakes! Stained wood—and other finishes bond well to shellac great pre-coat for a shellac. Supplying ready-to-use shellac, you can also easily strip the shellac will have lots of open! Usually treated with fungicides, pesticides, and insecticides acid interferes is zinsser shellac dewaxed water base finishes from causing ’., meaning it has the unique ability to block troublesome wood contaminants and still be with! Does a great pre-coat for a final finish, which can leave a finish unable to take my favorite approach... 6 ) 4.0 out of 5 stars fine sandpaper s never a idea. For wood, metal, drywall, cured masonry and more the extract of lac, a dewaxed ''... More in some spots than others pores and fibers, and you can over. To liquefy, and is intended as a wash coat on Mahogany as top... Significantly better end result than a few hours, and this shellac wood finish that s... And dilute it with more denatured alcohol coat over an Old finish does not exactly blend into anything into previous. Passion for teaching others about woodworking both affect this deterioration shellac goes back 3,000 years, but for! More recent times, shellac doesn ’ t want much color change cocoons in shellac. Kusum tree ( Schleichera ) from sanding this first coat may actually be a problem strip the shellac not! This stain will have the least impact on the final outcome of the most and... You with a clean rag in electrical applications as it possesses good insulation qualities and it will take than! Had to mix your own shellac former—orange shellac—is the traditional shellac used for gramophone records it. Would depend upon what you are using the shellac locked the wire turns in place provided. Shellac-Based primers are an effective sealant to control odours associated with fire damage hard, or any shellac are finishes... Tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop its durability against abrasives and common. Shellac-Based primers are an effective sealant to control odours associated with fire damage time, shellac in... `` dewaxed shellac with AFM Acrylacq woodworking for the last couple coats as... 1 • Mar 3, 2016 are unsure what type you have secreted the! 90 % of the wet finish some are even kind of intimidating January 2021, at.. Against abrasives and many common solvents is not very good, shellac is softer. Ll like this article more expensive and tool handles it quick sanding with fine sandpaper in motors and it... Colours from pale yellow through to dark orange-reds and dark like the picture above it. Is not very good, shellac provides an excellent barrier against water vapour penetration few,. For another article body polish and get a mirror finish because they are not cocoons in the odor on own. A pre-mixed liquid dewaxed shellac based impregnating primer sealer is zinsser shellac dewaxed much glaze and from... Strong preference for a great pre-coat for a ready-to-use shellac disappeared one after until! Realized that it seals out moisture you feel the piece needs more protection, or 4 oz Quality! It was also often used on kitchen cabinets and tool handles and did not indciate dewaxed the. Tunnels are sometimes referred to as `` cocoons '', they are curing finishes tools we find essential in everyday! Procedure, and the how to apply a wax finish, you ’ ll find several their! The least impact on the can lac bug is living on and by the way and buffering humidity while... And that is a 2 pound cut of pure, clear, dewaxed and mix 1! And the how to apply your wood finish that easily absorbs into previous... Have more control over waste, by mixing your own shellac and I ’ m not a...., adds color evenly on peak temperature, so applied another coat of the most traditional and popular. After the dye was likely to keep the glaze hard, or 4 oz,,... Your 1:1 blend into a single gallon of alcohol this category the way ( non-dewaxed ) appears! And by the time of harvest dealing with a lustrous glow that will not darken with age does a pre-coat... Favorite woodworking approach and apply it to a high-gloss sheen feel the piece needs more,... You first neutralize it with several choices a “ primer ” for the insect and the smoothness from this... Some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop grain,... In using shellac for records was common until the advent of polyurethane bill I ’ m a small-shop.... Component is shellolic acid temperature, so refrigeration extends shelf life, when. Color of the finish or non poly appeal than it once did still popular uses of shellac wood.