Replies

1. 
   hotdogman | Dec 24, 2020 09:08pm | #1

   Shellac is made from the secretion from the female lac beetle. A major source of shellac is from India and due to a change in climate there has been a crop failure for the past three years. The Shellac supply has become scarce and very expensive as a result.

2. 
   _mj_ | Dec 24, 2020 09:09pm | #2

   Crazy buying sprees on all things alcohol related? Supply / demand for raw materials is my guess. Drinking and disinfecting are VERY popular pastimes these days...

3. 
   john_c2 | Dec 25, 2020 01:34am | #3

   Third party sellers ask crazy prices on Amazon.

   I don't think its the price on shellac that has skyrocketed, but the price on the aerosol version. I just bought a gallon of Sealcoat, and looked around at prices first. I think I've paid the exact same price over the last ten years.

4. 
   lordulrich | Dec 25, 2020 11:24am | #4

   I usually mix my own shellac, and haven't found shellac prices being too bad compared to the last time I ordered, probably a little higher but not crazy. I have had trouble finding denatured alcohol. Most places aren't even carrying it any more and nobody seems to want to sell gallons.

5. 
   davidweaver | Dec 26, 2020 11:58pm | #5

   Just short term price changes. If it's out on amazon, like someone said above, then third party sellers will start listing. I doubt the third party sellers even have it, they're just finding other listings and arranging for an item to be shipped to you.

   If there is denatured alcohol at home depot or wherever you shop, you can make your own. I see amber shellac flakes on ebay for $28 for a pound (which would make 2 1/2 quarts of 2 lb cut with alcohol added, roughly), though you can seriously overpay of you choose to by buying shellac flakes from woodworking retailers (woodcraft has a listing on ebay for double that price, but woodworking retailers are often a terrible source for anything that can be bought elsewhere).