OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

268540 RH Hutchins <rhhutchins@h...> 2019‑05‑17 Things I can't Find Online
Google tells me about Zinsser brand products at Lowes and HD but no 
other products or sources.  Where do you buy shellac? . . .  from what 
makers?  . . l what suppliers?  What size containers do you buy it in?  
. . .  pints, quarts, . . . ?  I've been binge watching Paul Sellers 
YouTube vids and he seems able to buy it at retail in the UK in brands 
unknown here in the States.

I have some flakes that have been stored in the refrigerator for a few 
years now.  I think I'll probably try to mix a bit of it.  Could someone 
please remind me what weight (or volume) of flakes to mix with what 
volume of alcohol?  I'd like to mix up small batches for use ad hoc so 
as to stretch the supply.

Tony's Jacktown haul reminded me that I don't have a split nut 
screwdriver.  Google was of no help nor were amazon or ebay.  Where 
would you go to find one?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA
268542 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2019‑05‑17 Re: Things I can't Find Online
Bob, 
When I needed a split-nut screwdriver for the first time, I filed a notch in a
plain flat blade screwdriver.

So, the source of supply was as close as the file drawer.

Keep your eyes open at yard sales, Flea Markets, estate sales, etc. for decent
files until you have every shape, size, and cut you could possibly use.

Look through the archives for file care procedures; the classic “file card” is
NOT really a good way to clean files.  Try to find the posts about using
flattened copper plumbing pipe to clean files, and citric acid to sharpen them.

People just don’t seem to appreciate files these days; good ones go for a buck
or two at the NJ Fleas.

If I had not filed the notch, I would have used a cut off wheel in my Dremel
tailed apprentice .

John Ruth
Who remembered to snip this time!
268543 Bill Webber 2019‑05‑17 Re: Things I can't Find Online
I've made a few split nut screw drivers from old $1 chisels.

Bill W.
Nottingham, PA
Woodworkers visit me at http://billwebber.galootcentral.com/
268545 "John M Johnston (jmjhnstn)" <jmjhnstn@m...> 2019‑05‑17 Re: Things I can't Find Online
Bob, I buy and use lots of Zinsser amber and blonde shellac, usually from big
box stores as their stock turns over more quickly.   I’ve mixed my own from
flakes, but most often I dilute the canned Zinsser to about a 1-pound cut and
use 5-7 coats. I’ve followed this approach primarily on walnut, maple, and
cherry.

Cheers,
John


“P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried;
therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P.

On May 17, 2019, at 3:33 PM, RH Hutchins mailto:rhhutchins@h...">mailto:rhhutchins@h...>> wrote:

Google tells me about Zinsser brand products at Lowes and HD but no other
products or sources.  Where do you buy shellac? . . .  from what makers?  . . l
what suppliers?  What size containers do you buy it in?  . . .  pints, quarts, .
. . ?  I've been binge watching Paul Sellers YouTube vids and he seems able to
buy it at retail in the UK in brands unknown here in the States.

I have some flakes that have been stored in the refrigerator for a few years
now.  I think I'll probably try to mix a bit of it.  Could someone please remind
me what weight (or volume) of flakes to mix with what volume of alcohol?  I'd
like to mix up small batches for use ad hoc so as to stretch the supply.

Tony's Jacktown haul reminded me that I don't have a split nut screwdriver.
Google was of no help nor were amazon or ebay.  Where would you go to find one?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Bob Hutchins
Temple, TX, USA
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268548 scott grandstaff <scottg@s...> 2019‑05‑18 Re: Things I can't Find Online
Shellac is very hard to screw up
  So far in my life I have mixed it thin as water, and thick as honey.
  Had spectacular results with both.

The only thing I ever did to screw up shellac was try to use alcohol 
that was too old.
Alcohol will "get away" and also attract water in time.

  They say its possible for shellac flakes to go bad.
I last mixed up 12-15 year old O'deen stock,
and it worked perfect.

  But I have only ever had trouble with bad alcohol.

Oh and every split nut driver I ever used --successfully--, was homemade.
Early split nuts were not made to standards.
  You have to custom grind, slot, fit........... every split nut driver 
that you expect to work.

I never even got to use the same one twice for different jobs!
I always have to start over and fit a new one, whenever I need one.
      yours Scott


-- 
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/
    http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html
268558 Tom Dugan <tom_dugan@h...> 2019‑05‑22 Re: Things I can't Find Online (shellac edition)
________________________________
From: OldTools  on behalf of scott grandstaff

Sent: Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:14 AM
To: porch
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Things I can't Find Online

...
  But I have only ever had trouble with bad alcohol.
...
*******************************
    Scott Grandstaff
    Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca  96039
    scottg@s...


Yeah, I think a lot of us can relate.

But back to shellac  ...

I've taken to using Everclear, because the additional cost isn't so bad given
the relatively small amount of shellac I've been using up. Maryland recently
outlawed the 95% Everclear, so now I have to make do with the "new" Everclear
labeled "94.5%".

There's bad alcohol and then there's BAD alcohol.
-Tom

Recent Bios FAQ