Shellac
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I started my finishes with Varnish and kept on this system for several years.. I started on shellac and waxing and got to like the shellac finish. Problems I kept getting it was easy to mark, small drop of water = white patch, finger nail scratch white patch. What am I doing wrong.?
Hi, I was at the time using Liberon sanding sealer then Colron waxing. I started on the liberon when I noticed Paul using it on a finishing project. Not sure weather he had added anything more I didn’t ask at the time.
That is about it.
Thanks for your enquiry
Ray3 January 2023 at 1:47 pm #785594Hi, I have just started using Liberon sanding sealer, trying to build up a few coats (3/4) and finishing with wax. I have seen the same problems with finger nail marks. Having never used it before I am unsure of how hard it should be.
One test I have done is to apply some to some glass (side of a glass jar). So far what I have found is where it was thicker it was easily scratched off, but where the coating was noticeably thinner it was much more resistant to the finger nail.
So I am wondering if I have been applying it too thickly so it has not been able to cure correctly.
TomHi Tom,
I had problems with Liberon Shellack. Using 3 or 4 coats and waxing I found within a few days of using the units I could see patches of white around draws and doors parts that are touched often. Never could find the answer. I now use Ronseal varnish.
Rayc 21- This reply was modified 1 year, 3 months ago by rayc21.
4 January 2023 at 7:48 pm #785744Have experienced the same problem with thicker cut shellac but not with the Liberon Sanding Sealer. The reason I believe lies in trying to get a sheen, so I put on too thick layers of a too heavy cut. When using the sanding sealer, which must be a very thin cut, I can apply much thinner layers. There won’t be much of a gloss, particularly not on woods with prominent pores, but this finish has this far been quite durable.
2 August 2023 at 9:35 am #809180Just an update. After talking to a few others I was reccomended to try Morrells shellac sealer. I found some via ebay (available in fairly small quantities too). This worked as expected.
In the case of the Liberon, and based on my experience with the Morrells brand I think that either what I had was an old batch or I didn’t mix it well enough (although I remember being pretty sure I did mix it well). Even with the morrells (which had a clear container) i found that after a while it would separate and, especially if not a lot is left, this can be difficult to properly mix together.Tom
I’ve done “torture” tests with liberon dewaxed blonde shellac flakes and tiger flakes from BT&C. I was not able to get any white marking while leaving the finish overnight. I think fresh is best with Shellac. It’s pretty easy to mix your own. Just have to plan ahead.
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