A traditional organic resin extracted from a scale lac insect ( laccifer lacca) and processed into shellac flakes. This is a natural resin with a small amount of wax. Dissolved flakes in methylated spirit it is a clear hard varnish, with good bonding use as french polish. Gold gilding as primer coat. Increasingly hard to get shellac flakes are still being used as furniture varnish, mold makers as a sealer for plaster molds, paint works as inter surface barrier or resist in metal etching and rewiring for its good insulating properties. It is fast drying with the evaporation of spirit solvent.
To prepare shellac, weigh flakes and add to spirit solvent. Normally 1lb cut refers to 1lb flakes to 1 gallon solvent. 2lb cut to 1 gallon is 2lb cut. Shake well and leave overnight for the flakes to dissolve and the wax to settle at the bottom denoted as a cloudy layer. Decant the top shellac liquid for a dewaxed shellac. You need to dewax for better adhesion if final finish requires a Polyurethene finish. Use as a sealer or as a varnish with more subsequent coatings applied with fine sanding between layers. 4-5 coatings would suffice. The first coat need dilution with solvent for better penetration and sealing. Polish with furniture wax when shellac varnish is cured and hardened to minimize surface scratches. To remove shellac varnish scrub with steel wool and methylated spirit to dissolve the varnish. Shellac color is light to dark brown depending on the cut. Color if needed with oil dyes in shellac solution.
For a superb shellac finish without brush marks, drip shellac to alcohol dampen cotton ball pad. Rub in circular motion on to a finely sanded wood. The friction helps to eradicate and the alcohol solvent dissolve any shellac swirl. To lessen friction some add drops of paraffin oil to the polish surface. As surface protection for the fine french polish, Tung oil or hard carnauba wax is buffed on the cured french finish.
Papier mache and paper sculptures are strengthened and reinforced with application of shellac varnish in one or more coatings. Thereafter to be poly putty filled and sanded smooth for paint coating.
In gold gilding, shellac without or with mesh#1000 calcium carbonate filler will fill wood grains for a smooth gilding. Fine sand with Mesh#6000 emery polishing sandpaper every coating before gilding. Smooth filled wood grain surface allow burnishing with agate tool for a plated finish effect.
Also used as a wax resist in acid etching, print making, fabric stiffener and crafts adhesive.
Store flakes in cool, dry and dark environment.