Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Mar 29, 2006 07:57pm | #1

   If you want to overcoat with poly varnish or any waterborne finish, you must use a dewaxed shellac. Poly and waterborne do not adhere well to shellac that contains its natural wax.

   You have two choices. Use a dewaxed shellac. However, you will have to buy dewaxed flake shellac and make up your own if you want an amber shellac. There is no pre-mixed amber dewaxed shellac. The only pre-mixed dewaxed shellac is Zinnser's Sealcoat which is a 2# cut, blond shellac. It has little amber color.

   The second choice is to use a non-poly varnish. Non-poly varnish will adhere just fine to standard shellac. Plus, you will end up with much nicer looking finish. You can use Waterlox Original Gloss or Satin or Behlen Rockhard. Both will give you virtully the same durability as poly varnish and will look nicer.

   Howie.........
1. 
   mudman | Apr 01, 2006 06:19am | #2

   I just noticed that the Home Depot near me had Zinzer Amber Shellac. I think it was described as "garnet" Shellac. I've been using the stuff for years and this is the first time I have seen it in any thing other than Blond.

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 01, 2006 01:27pm | #3

   The Amber is what Zinsser used to call Orange shellac and which is still orange in the commodity trade for shellac.  Garnet shellac is a different color--more bronze than orange and only available in flakes.  Zinnser also makes Clear which used to be called White and which is a bleached shellac. (Bleaching makes the shellac a bit less water resistant)  Zinsser's Seal Coat is a light colored dewaxed shellac.  There is a whole range of shellac colors available to be mixed from flakes, ranging from very light to quite dark both waxed and dewaxed. 

   Several references may be found at at Jeff Jewitt's site

    http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/shellac3.htm and

   http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/shellac.htm

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 04, 2006 07:47pm | #4

   Their regular shellac is available in clear and amber.  The SealCoat (dewaxed) is only in clear.

   http://www.zinsser.com/subcat.asp?CategoryID=3forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 05, 2006 01:28am | #5

   Just a note:  The SealCoat is more amber than the Clear but still light--perhaps more of a dirty blonde.  The Clear is actual bleached shellac, almost platinum blonde, and is less durable, but is even lighter than Super Blonde shellac which is natural not bleached.  (ie. it is lighter because more of the dye has been processed out, but there hasn't been a chemical bleaching.)   

2. 
   mudman | Apr 05, 2006 07:14pm | #6

   So the regular Shellacs are not dewaxed? That seems odd for a product sold at Home Depot. Now I have to look at what I have been using. I dont think it is bleached, but I am sure that it is dewaxed.

   Mike

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 06, 2006 12:48am | #7

   You are suprised Home Depot takes the "cheap" solution? 

   The only Zinsser liquid shellac without wax is SealCoat (the aerosol shellac is also dewaxed).  Both the Amber (which used to be called orange) and the Clear (used to be white) contain wax and have for a very long time.  The Bullseye brand moniker appears on all three varieties. 

   Edited 4/6/2006 11:04 am ET by SteveSchoene

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 06, 2006 07:43am | #8

   Best to assume any shellac has it's original wax unless otherwise noted.  I'm not totally following your post, too tired, had a fun day in Port Angeles today, and too much good food.  g'night!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   Anon | Apr 06, 2006 09:18pm | #9

   ForestGirl, I wonder if you or someone else who has bought flakes can tell me: what are "super blonde dewaxed" supposed to look like?  I bought a pound of Behlen's from Lee Valley.  I've never bought or used shellac before, mixed or flakes, and they are ORANGE!  And a one pound cut into denatured alcohol looks like orange Kool-Aid!  I know the result isn't supposed to be totally clear, but I wonder if I got some flakes that are mislabeled?  How would I know?

   PS I used it as a wash coat to limit oil blotching on some cherry, so I'm not really worried about having ruined a finish, just really curious what I have on hand. 

4. 
   forestgirl | Apr 07, 2006 04:43am | #10

   Can't help you there, Anon, I have flakes (just bought) but haven't gone that fundamental route yet.  To get you some background while you're waiting for another post, though, take a read of Jeff Jewitt's shellac article:

   http://homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/shellac.htm

   Most pertinent info starts at the "The Many Varieties of Shellac" section.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

5. 
   HowardAcheson | Feb 16, 2010 05:21pm | #11

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