Replies

1. 
   Gretchen | Mar 18, 2004 08:32pm | #1

   Toss it and get fresh. It probably won't dry.

   Gretchen
2. 
   woodman54 | Mar 18, 2004 08:38pm | #2

   Six months in the can is the life of shellac. In some hardware store I see shellac one or two years old. Buying it that old is throwing your money away. A lot of people into finishing buy the shellac in flake form and make their own with denatured alcohol.

3. 
   joinerswork | Mar 18, 2004 08:45pm | #3

   Joe,

   pitch it.  I started mixing my own from flakes after I had to wash off a corner cupboard inside and out after coating it with some of the canned stuff that would not dry.  Haven't had a problem since (at least with shellac!)

   Good luck,

   Ray

1. 
   JoeWood | Mar 18, 2004 08:54pm | #4

   Hhmmm ..

   So, what should I do with the tacky coat that's on the ply ? Can I just coat over it with fresh ??  (tail wagging hopefully)

   It's *almost* dry ..

1. 
   wop | Mar 18, 2004 10:51pm | #5

       Remove as much as possible with alcohol and rags (lots of both) then coat with fresh stuff that you mixed up from flakes.Learn the lesson and buy only flakes from now on.

                                                                                    Philip

1. 
   JoeWood | Mar 18, 2004 10:57pm | #6

   Right ! Thanks guys, and gal ! Lesson learned !

2. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 18, 2004 11:23pm | #8

   >> ... then coat with fresh stuff that you mixed up from flakes.

   And don't buy a lifetime supply of flakes. Stored long enough, even the flakes will eventually go bad.

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Mar 18, 2004 11:04pm | #7

   The test of any old finish is whether it will dry or not. If not, throw it. It makes no difference whether you use flakes or pre-dissolved. Once dissolved, shellac has a definate shelf life. When you use flakes, always date the left-over and store in a glass jar.