The Great Properties of SHELLAC

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Apr 182021
 

Shellac’s Great Properties

From The:
Zinsser booklet revised 2004, first published in 1913
and reprinted seventeen times throughout the years
.
Shellac has such remarkable properties that if it were just recently discovered,
it would be hailed as the miracle finish of the 21st century.

  • All-natural –

Shellac is an all-natural resin that is harvested regularly
and is, therefore, a renewable resource.

  • Mild alcohol odor –

Shellac is dissolved in denatured ethyl alcohol. It has a mild,
antiseptic odor that dissipates quickly as the product dries.

  • Easy to use –

Shellac is user-friendly and virtually goof-proof.
It can be applied with a brush, pad, sprayer or wiping cloth.

  • Super-fast dry time –

Shellac dries to the touch in MINUTES and, in most cases,
can be sanded or recoated in little more than half an hour.

  • Cold temperature application –

Unlike other finishes, shellac can be applied in cold temperatures
(40° F. and below)
without concern over proper drying and curing.

  • Non-toxic / hypoallergenic –

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has certified shellac
as a protective glaze for candy and pharmaceuticals.

  • Non-yellowing / non-darkening –

Shellac is UV-resistant and will not yellow
or darken with age, unlike oil-base finishes.

  • Enhances the beauty of wood grain –

Shellac brings out the rich warmth of wood grain.
Finished surfaces look soft and natural,
not plastic-coated.

  • Sticks to glossy surfaces and finishes –

Shellac is prized by everyone who uses it for its incredible adhesion.
It will stick to just about anything.

  • Dried film is impervious to odors –

Two or more coats of shellac will seal in any kind of odor
in any type of porous surface.

  • Stain sealer –

Shellac is one of the world’s most effective stain and knot sealers,
another reason why we use it to make B-I-N® Primer-Sealer.

  • Easy to touch up and recoat –

Unlike other finishes, shellac can be easily touched up if it is scratched or worn; a new coat of shellac melts itself into the existing coat.

  • Easy to clean up or remove

Shellac is dissolved by household ammonia as well as alcohol,
making it very easy to clean brushes and other tools.

&
Best of all, a shellac finish looks great!
Shellac imparts a clear, hard film with a high gloss
that can be buffed to a glowing, velvety sheen.

Shellac in liquid and aerosol form is still the craftsman’s choice
as a finish for woodwork and as a protective sealer for countless uses.


Shellac.net Wood Finish Supply  •  MeritIndustries.com
Authorized Mohawk Distributor

To: Shellac Variety Listing



Common Shellac Myths

 New Additions  Comments Off on Common Shellac Myths
Apr 182021
 

Common Shellac Myths

From The:
Zinsser booklet revised 2004, first published in1913 and reprinted seventeen times throughout the years.

Myth:
Shellac is made from bugs or bug droppings.

FACT:
Shellac is a resin secreted by the lac insect

to form a cocoon, much like a silk worm.
It takes about 100,000 lac bugs to make
1 lb. of shellac resin.

Myth:
A shellac finish turns white
when water touches it.

FACT:
Fresh shellac is remarkably water-resistant

and, in most cases, will stay clear after hours
of exposure to water, making it a great finish
for most interior surfaces, including woodwork, trim,
doors, cabinets, paneling, floors
(yes, floors!) and furniture.

Myth:
Shellac scratches easily and is very brittle.

FACT:
Shellac is a durable finish that is much less brittle than lacquer and does not scratch as easily. Unlike polyurethane, a damaged shellac finish can be easily touched up or renewed by applying another coat.

Myth:
Shellac turns an ugly dark color as it ages.

FACT:
Shellac is UV-resistant and does not yellow or darken with age. The dark shellac that people see in older homes is a less-refined version of shellac that either was naturally dark or was tinted by contractors when dark wood colors were preferred in the early 20th century.

Myth:
Shellac is incompatible with other finishes.

FACT:
Shellac will adhere tenaciously when applied over almost any other type of finish. When used as a sealer under certain polyurethanes, regular shellac may not be compatible because it contains a small amount of natural wax. To seal wood before applying polyurethane and other finishes, Zinsser developed Bulls Eye® SealCoat™ a shellac-base universal sealer that is 100% wax-free.

Myth:
Shellac is an old-fashioned, outdated finish.

FACT:
Shellac has more modern features and benefits
than any other wood finish in the world.


See: Shellac Variety Listing

Shellac.net Wood Finish Supply  •  MeritIndustries.com
Authorized Mohawk Distributor