Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Sep 30, 2008 03:47pm | #1

   The denatured alcohol will work fine. 

2. 
   dkellernc | Sep 30, 2008 04:37pm | #2

   While removing all of it is fairly easy with denatured alcohol and a bit of scrubbing (you have to get the shellac on the surface wet with the alcohol and keep it that way for a few minutes to get it to dissolve), I'd suggest sanding it out to level it if the box geometry permits.

   You'll get a very nice finish that's glass-smooth if you start with 400, then progress through 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500 grit stearated sandpaper, and finally polish the surface with automotive clear-coat "cleaner" (it's actually a very fine abrasive, not a cleaner).  You'll have to be very careful around the edges - it's easy to sand through to the wood.

1. 
   [email protected] | Sep 30, 2008 05:42pm | #3

   Thank you I'll give it a try this weekend

1. 
   dkellernc | Sep 30, 2008 08:19pm | #4

   There is, by the way, a way to shortcut a little of the sanding.  What you're after are the latter steps of French Polishing - you have to make a "rubber", charge that with alcohol, and rub the surface to smooth down the brush marks, drips, etc... 

   A traditional rubber (and the kind I use) is lamb's wool wrapped with 100% linen, with the excess cloth tied at the top.  You can get lamb's wool at the drugstore (it's sold to cushion shoes for people with bunions), and 100% linen at the fabric store.  If you choose to go this route, make sure you get linen made with 100% Flax fiber - there are substitutes that have substantial amount of polyesther to make it cheaper and easier to care for.

   There are easier substitutes for the traditional rubber - you can wrap a linen handkerchief around a balled-up scrap of 100% cotton t-shirt material.  In my opinion, they don't work quite as well, but it's easier to come by the materials.

   There's at least one, possibly more articles on French Polishing on the FWW website - I'd recommend reading one of them before trying this technique.

3. 
   Gretchen | Oct 01, 2008 03:39pm | #5

   As has been said, denatured alcohol will remove it VERY easily. If you use 0000 steel wool for the abrasive, you will probably not need any further sanding. But do be attentive to corners and get the "sludge"/shellac alcohol out of them VERY well. It will show up in your next finish coat.

   Gretchen
4. 
   forestgirl | Oct 02, 2008 08:39am | #6

   This article by Jeff Jewitt may be of help when you go to re-apply the finish.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)