How use shellac sticks

edwardh1 | Posted in Finishing on December 30, 2009 03:21am

any tips? Saw some used on a piano with a great result. we have a vertical side of a wooden bed that has a 3 x 2 inch shallow “ding” that needs to be filled in. problem is that we have the shellac sticks but do not know what to heat them with- need something that will hold heat. tried a putty knife blade but it cools too quickly

Replies

bill5335 | Dec 30, 2009 08:13pm | #1
You may need to buy an electric knife specifically for shellac sticks. I have one from Mohawk that cost about $60 (I think) that works very well.

You may want to pick up some burn in balm also.

Bill
Westchester | Dec 31, 2009 09:00am | #2
the electric knife is best - you can also heat a thin putty knife over a small kerosene burner - work slowly - and first try your skill on a scrap piece -

Some sources of heat can cause a black soot - watch for that-

Regards,

SA
sapwood | Dec 31, 2009 12:10pm | #3
Filling a 3x2 inch depression is not an appropriate use of shellac sticks. The area is simply too large. You'll never get the color correct nor the smoothness you need. Try dampening then steaming the depression to raise it back to the original level.

Shellac sticks work very well on small pits, splits, nail holes, etc. I also use an electric knife having tried a putty knife like tool that is heated over an alcohol lamp with poor success. I've friends in the refinishing trade who use an oven to heat several knives at once... this seems to work well. Remember, the are worked is small so a knife doesn't have to hold heat long and the knife doesn't have to be large.

Good finishing books should have step by step procedure for using the sticks. They do require some practice but the rewards are great.
SteveSchoene | Dec 31, 2009 03:38pm | #4
I suspect in most cases I would agree with Sapwood about large scale depressiions. Maybe we have the wrong idea about the nature of the ding. Can you describe it in more detail, or perhaps post a picture?
stantheman | Dec 31, 2009 03:56pm | #5
edward
I've used a soldering
edward

I've used a soldering iron when it was handy, also a travel iron, but wouldn't recommend that.
Westchester | Jan 01, 2010 09:45am | #6
How long have you had those shellac sticks ?

- some shellac sticks can go bad. Check to see if the sticks are crackled - if so discard -

SA