Diluting shellac

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  • Lee
    7 January 2013 at 11:12 pm #6235

    Hi all,
    I have bought some shellac which is quite thick and stains pine an orange/caramel colour which is way too dark.
    I want to try and dilute it but I’m not sure what to use.
    Methylated spirits (uk) has a purple dye added, does anyone know whether this dye will penetrate the wood?
    If there is another suggestion to dilute the shellac that would be great

    Thanks all
    Lee

    Anonymous
    7 January 2013 at 11:30 pm #6238

    Hi Lee,

    Methylated spirits is the right product for thinning shellac in the uk. What shellac did you buy. Amber / Blonde. Garnet witch is much darker.

    Lee
    8 January 2013 at 9:06 am #6256

    It’s 100% natural shellac branded as French polish, it’s way to dark for light coloured wood but works well for walnut.

    Ken, have you tried diluting with methylated spirits? Does the dye stain the wood? Thanks lee

    George Bridgeman
    8 January 2013 at 9:12 am #6257

    Hi Lee,

    I used the purple methylated spirits (from Homebase) to cut my shellac. I used the blonde flakes and it came out absolutely fine. There’s no hint of purple whatsoever in the final mixture nor on the finished items.

    George.

    "To know and not do is to not know"

    Lee
    8 January 2013 at 10:15 am #6259

    Thanks George, of to homebase then

    Anonymous
    8 January 2013 at 10:53 am #6260

    Thanks George,

    Lee, you do need the blonde shellac for light woods. Paul uses Liberon ready mixed sanding sealer on his projects.

    George Bridgeman
    8 January 2013 at 11:57 am #6262

    @lee Good stuff. When you start diluting the shellac, do so slowly. I’d even put 100ml or so of the already mixed shellac into a glass jar (*not* a plastic or metal container) and dilute it in that so you get a feel for how much methylated spirits to add. You can always add more but you can’t take it out! Give it a good mix and leave it for 15 minutes or so, check the colour, add a bit more if it needs it, wait a bit, etc.

    I’m still new to cutting shellac so others may have more advice but that’s what I’ve learned so far.

    George.

    "To know and not do is to not know"

    jonkilleen
    8 January 2013 at 2:15 pm #6271

    Good question Lee.  Having seen the colour of meths, I was concerned that everything would have a ‘blue rinse’ look to it.

    Yorkshireman currently living in Hampshire

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