Replies

1. 
   pins | Oct 11, 2006 12:37am | #1

   I don't think there is any difference in this application but you should always do a test on a piece of scrap.

   John

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 11, 2006 01:36am | #2

   Orange shellac is somewhat more water resistant than white (which Zinsser now calls "Amber" and "Clear".  But the biggest difference comes with the distinction of whether the wax that naturally occurs in shellac has been removed.  Dewaxed shellac is needed if you were putting polyurethane varnish over it.  Poly won't adhere very well to shellac with wax.  The only widely available premixed shellac that is dewaxed is Zinsser's Seal Coat.  There are lots of other options--mostly as to the color of the shellac--if you mix the shellac yourself using dry flakes and denatured alcohol.  (See http://www.homesteadfinishing.com for some of these choices.)

3. 
   Rich14 | Oct 11, 2006 10:49pm | #3

   Dan,

   When you refer to white shellac, do you mean the white pigmented variety? White pigmented shellac is commonly used on walls that are to be painted or under a new coat of paint to hide stains and other blemishes.

   Either amber (non-pigmented shellac containing naturally occuring wax and red dye) or white pigmented shellac will work well in your application, prior to paintiing, but white pigmented shellac will cover the knots a little better in that first coat.

   I don't think you meant by, white shellac, filtered, bleached, clear, light blonde variety. Did you?

   Rich

   
   

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   Edited 10/11/2006 3:50 pm ET by Rich14

1. 
   Mike&L | Oct 12, 2006 09:06pm | #4

   One thing for a person new to shellac to watch for is the age of the liquid shellac.  I finished my first project in shop (a small book shelf, many, many moons ago) with shellac of indeterminate age.  It never did dry.  Gummy, for-ever.  Darn!

   Nearly turned me off of woodwork forever as well.

   Mike D 

2. 
   DanAlberta | Oct 13, 2006 03:27pm | #5

   I think it  is white pigmented. it looks kind of like watered down milk when it comes out of the bottle. I don't think it is bleached or filtered either. Like I said I am new to using shellac, I didn't realize there were so m any different kinds and colors.

1. 
   Rich14 | Oct 13, 2006 06:36pm | #6

   Dan,

   White, pigmented shellac is a product all by itself amoung shellacs. It is a shellac to which white pigment has been added, and probably some other proprietary ingredients. Its label is pretty self-explanatory. It's great for "killing" stains and odor in prepping raw materials for painting.

   Natural shellac has its own natural red pigment and wax. Many people use the darkest shades, "as-is" for the color that it imparts to the work.

   Various "grades" of shellac have the pigment and wax removed. The "highest grade" is dewaxed, bleached, so-called ultra blonde.

   Rich

4. 
   frenchy | Oct 13, 2006 08:17pm | #7

   DanAlberta,

         You possibly know this already but don't use paint thinner with your shellac..

    Use denatured alcohol..

    a simple wash coat is really thin on shellac and long on alcohol..

     clean the brush out with alcohol afterwards and then spray windex into it.. Keeps the brush from getting stiff..