On Mon, 6 Dec 2004 18:38:36 -0800, Gary P. Laroff  wrote:
> Here's a few more pieces of information on shellac that conflict a bit with
> previous responses.

Thank goodness for a gen-yoo-wine expert.  My knowledge is hazy
(acquired during an ethanol testing session with a ChemE senior  who
found an interesting, but unauthorized way to use up her remaining 190
proof, tax free research materials), as well as second-hand.  Good to
hear that the benzene isn't enough to cause strange mutations and six
fingered hands, which would mean that plane and saw totes would need
to be redesigned.

I like both Hock's pure ethanol and Behkol quite a bit.  I don't like
the price.  I'll look into the anhydrous isopropyl since I don't mind
the way it smells and I'm used to it from days of cleaning tape and
disk drives.

The amount of methanol in "shellac thinner" definitely varies -- one
brand had quite a bit, another was stated to have less than 4%.  The
<4% didn't smell too bad.  In contrast, Bullseye shellac smells like
methanol without < 4% ethanol....

I've looked at buying various kinds of lab alcohol, but that's
definitely not a bargain at $30 and up a gallon.

Don't forget to filter the shellac/alcohol mix.  Mr. Hock's fine
flakes had some insoluble residue, as expected.  I used latex paint
filters from my local Ace, but I've heard that cheesecloth might be
better and finer.

Homestead Finishing sells premixed shellac/alcohol concentrate (5 lb
cut) as do a couple of other finishing supply companies.

Ken Meltsner