What is the shelf life of shellac? I know the woodworkers when dissolving shellac to use as a finish consider it to have a shelf life … Thread Tools. Enter Shellac flakes. If you use much shellac it makes sense to mix your own from flakes. Shelf life of the shellac alcohol mix should be a few months. Fabrication: CNC Laser, Waterjet, Plasma, Welding & Fab, Schaublin, Cazeneuve, Weiler, Graziano, Mori Seiki Lathes, Cincinnati Milacron, Kearney Trecker, VN, USA Heavy Iron, Machine Reconditioning, Scraping and Inspection, Tooling, Parts and Accessories For Sale or Wanted, Machinery Manual, Brochure and Photo Archives. However, in poor storage conditions, they can become unuseable in as short as a couple months. However, most of us discard shellac if it's more than two months old! However, there’s one danger to shellac: the shelf life. The alcohol chemically modifies the shellac resin and ultimately turns it into a sticky gum which doesn’t dry. When applied, it will be sticky and slow drying. Keep the flake cool, dark and tightly sealed. Remember, in flake form, and stored properly, shellac has a shelf life of around 3 years. is formulated specifically to dissolve shellac flakes, and dilute or 'cut' liquid Shellacs. Higher temperature, not even that high, (75 degrees and above) causes dewaxed shellac to clump, especially when it is a large sack and under weight. If … If you see a thick gooey gelatinous mass at the bottom of the jar, its past its shelf life and should not be used. No nasty chemicals. The next day there was a glob in the bottom of the jar which won't dissolve no matter what I do. Shelf life of shellac flakes. The microwaving was on shellac flakes only, no solvent. Hopefully that will help. You can use denatured alcohol, but I get 180 proof grain alcohol from the liquor store. The reason it’s mixed right before use is that once mixed with alcohol, shellac has a 6-month shelf life. So when buying shellac, if you go to a store and you find some in the way back of the shelf covered with dust… you may not want to purchase it. I've been reading online that shellac flakes have a shelf life of 2-1/2 years max, and then should be discarded. Dry Flakes or Shellac Solutions. After about two years, dewaxed shellac that has been stored in a cool, dark, dry place will dis-solve in alcohol more slowly, and some of it will not dissolve completely, forming a gelatinous mass at the bottom of the bottle. It’s a natural resin secreted by insects in parts of India and Southeast Asia. Refrigeration extends the shelf life. 97465 541.332.8003 malcolm@shellacshack.com It is much cheaper then buying prepared shellac and you mix only what you need fresh. I've always thought that if the shellac dissolved and then dried hard enuf to sand it was ok. And I know I've used some stuff that was WAY older than 2 years. 15 September 2016 at 1:27 am #140175. Therefore you can stock-up and mix only what is needed for the job at hand. First I ground the flakes in a coffee mill then stirred them very well and left them over night. I've gotten good life out of this finish I used on a pair of … Darren. Here are some insights about how to judge when it is no longer useful. the suspension of flakes may not be visible. Shellac flakes have a finite shelf life unknown to most users. Participant. I tried using some unsuccessfully with wax chuck and could not get it to stick properly. Shellac flakes have a longer shelf life, you have total control of the cut, and you know exactly what's in it. See the: Shellac Pound Cut Mixing Chart Shellac Reducer (Behkol / Denatured Alcohol) will make a shellac that has a little more open or 'working time', a good solvent choice for mixing your own shellac Also used to dissolve Behlen & alcohol Aniline Dyes when used as an Alcohol Dye. Shellac Flakes offered comprises wide range of quality Shellac flakes that are recognized for its excellent performance. It will get to the point that it will not dissolve in alcohol. Commercially available shellac has a shelf life of roughly six months. Once mixed with alcohol, shellac will start to react chemically, (search for esterification if you want to know more), and evaporation of the alcohol doesn’t get you back to where you started. … Remember, in flake form, and stored properly, shellac has a shelf life of around 3 years. Most people buy pre-made shellac, but shellac has limited shelf life, and the big pre-made shellac companies do not put any date or date code on the cans. Plastic salsa / to-go containers work well, and so do glass jam jars and things like that. Register for the world’s largest manufacturing technology forum for free today to stay in the know. And unfortunately, there’s no visible sign that the shellac is bad. Shellac flakes have a finite shelf life unknown to most users. David B . Shellac flakes have a shelf life. This is why pre-mixed shellac varnishes have a short shelf life. Note: The 5 … I've been reading online that shellac flakes have a shelf life of 2-1/2 years max, and then should be discarded. Dry flakes actually DO NOT have an unlimited life. "I would … Shellac … You accept the use of cookies or other identifiers by closing or dismissing this notice, by scrolling this page, by clicking a link or button or by continuing to browse otherwise. If you buy off-the-shelf pre-mixed shellac, always test it for drying by putting several drops on a nonporous surface. The flakes have a much longer shelf life. Shellac is chemically similar to acrylic, and hence made of long polymer chains. They had that happen in the furniture conservation lab in Williamsburg,where I was the toolmaker. However, you’re unlikely to find a pre-mixed container stamped with a ‘mixed on’ date, so it’s a good idea to write the date on the container when you first open it. The thing about shellac is that it will take a tremendous polish at extremely thin layers. Posted by Jack Lord on February 20, 2016 at 7:54am in Luthier Talk; View Discussions; I mixed a 2# cut of shellac. Shellac has a limited shelf life. Waxed shellac has a very very long shelf life because the wax protects the shellac. The ideal temperature is between 65-70 degrees F. When applied, it will be sticky and slow drying. If used for French polishing, more than the usual amount of oil will be required for lubrication. The resin is dried into a … There’s disagreement among woodworkers over what this shelf life is exactly: six months, one year, three years? Once shellac flakes are mixed with alcohol, the mixture has a shelf life of no more than a year and a half. Even if Shellac flakes are stored in a cool, dark and dry place, but older than 2 years (thumb rule), it will not dissolve completely in alcohol overnight when compared to fresh stock. This mix looks like its ready after two hours but don’t be deceived. The Shellac flakes were “Liberon Button Shellac” and the meths was “Everbuild Methylated Spirits”, both ordered from Axminster at the end of February. To learn more, please refer to the cookie policy. Keeping it cool will increase mixed shellac's shelf life. Another factor in the shelf life of the flakes is how it is stored. Keep the flake cool, dark and tightly sealed. The mixes I am trying are in clean jars and are still in the sealed jar with solvents but will not dissolve. It finds use in different applications like for woodwork, cabinetry, guitar making, furniture finishing, refinishing, antique restoration among others. Once the dry flakes are dissolved in ethyl alcohol (ethanol), a chemical process known as esterification begins. © 2014 SHELLACFINISHES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This is annoying but the clump does limit the contact oxygen has with the insides of the clump. Sign up for our eNewsletter now to stay in-the-know. Flake Shellac has a virtually unlimited shelf life if kept dry, cool and out of direct sunlight, thus making this the most practical way of purchasing the product. Even if Shellac flakes are stored in a cool, dark and dry place, but older than 2 years (thumb rule), it will not dissolve completely in alcohol overnight when compared to fresh stock. Not sure what happens to shellac dissolved in alcohol after a year - does it not adhere anymore or something? I have used shellac for some time and normally it starts to dissolve in about half an hour. Thread: Shelf life of shellac flakes? It looks the same. Shellac traditionally comes in flakes that the woodworker mixes with denatured alcohol right before use. I know Meths has a shelf life. Keep agitating for 24 hours. It smells the same. Copyright © 2021 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. If used for French polishing, more than the usual amount of oil will be required for lubrication. In case of sale of your personal information, you may opt out by sending us an email via our Contact Us page. But,I keep mine away from air,at least. Brewing up your own batch when it is needed will save money while giving you control over the product. © 2021 Copyright Practicalmachinist.com. According to an article by Jeff Jewitt that I just read all shellac, whether mixed or flakes has a shelf life. Shellac flakes WILL degrade such that they will no longer dissolve in alcohol. I had considered using shellac between oil based stain and Minwax water based Polycrylic, but I've checked the labels and it appears it's not necessary. This is responsible for … browsing data or IP addresses) and use cookies or other identifiers, which are necessary for its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. Learn more about us. Regards. This website or its third-party tools process personal data (e.g. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. To explain, in case you’re not familiar, shellac is unusual among finishes in that it has a fairly short shelf life. Braking up the flakes can help. Some of its features include availability in de-waxed and waxy grades, comes in many warm colors from very light … With more than 10.6 million unique visitors over the last year, Practical Machinist is the most visited site for metalworking professionals. mix your own shellac. This is probably totally wrong by me but I just kind of … We'll, I've had unbleached and blonde flakes for 30+ years, still using them and no huge difference in … If … We sell our shellac in plastic bags with a desiccant and an oxygen absorber. Now here is the interesting thing that most do not realize- Shellac typically expires 6 to 9 months after the date of manufacturer. What Is Shellac Anyway? The flakes will be marked de-waxed or not. What about the Shellac? Storage of the dry flakes should be a few years. Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.5 Could it be too old now? Shellac Shack P O Box 1027 Port Orford, Or. While flakes have an indefinite shelf life, in liquid form, shellac will last only about 6 months, although it will last up to 3 years in an unopened container. A little goes a long way. It is always a good idea to buy shellac flakes as and when required. When applied, it will be sticky and slow drying. The latest industry news—straight to your inbox. Site Designed & Maintained by Dreamz Interactive. Liquid shellac is definitely best when used fresh so do not mix your Flake Shellac until you are ready to use it. Shaking helps to disperse equality throughout the solution and the end result is completely dissolved shellac. I store mine in bottles. Mixed up the shelf life is supposed to be 6-12 months for blonde/super blonde dewaxed, and 1-2 years for an unopened bag of flakes. Shellac flakes have a finite shelf life unknown to most users. I’ve read conflicting … However, dewaxed shellac has a much shorter shelf life after mixing it with alcohol (about 6 months). Practical Machinist is the easiest way to learn new techniques, get answers quickly and discuss common challenges with your peers. You can buy shellac ready mixed or you can make your own. Store mixture in a cool dark and dry area of your workshop. The coating of wax keeps the shellac from clumping in the heat and it prevents the oxygen from getting to the shellac. I don't know the chemical reasons why old flakes will not dissolve. To make your own you buy flakes and mix them with denatured alcohol. Shellac is a gift from the insect world to woodworkers everywhere. The packaging is designed for long shelf life in a store, not long term storage in a workshop. Therefore you can stock-up … I've always thought that if the shellac dissolved and then dried hard enuf to sand it was ok. And I know I've used some stuff that was WAY older than 2 years. The label on commercial brands should tell you whether it is de-waxed or not. Liquid shellac has a limited shelf life (about 1 year), so is sold in dry form for dissolution before use. In excellent storage conditions, shellac flakes can last many years (storage conditions from 40F to 50F at <40% RH are suggested). If used for French polishing, more than the usual amount of oil will be required for lubrication. All Rights reserved. To find out more about the categories of personal information collected and the purposes for which such information will be used, please refer to our privacy policy. If shellac is used after this date, make sure that it dissolves completely in the alcohol. All shellac-based products can generally be mixed. Shelf life of shellac flakes? Even if Shellac flakes are stored in a cool, dark and dry place, but older than 2 years (thumb rule), it will not dissolve completely in alcohol overnight when compared to fresh stock. The plastic bag, while a decent barrier isn't totally impermeable and shellac left in the bags for years will deteriorate and eventually not dissolve. Just like … I have some shellac flakes that are likely quite old, came from a long retired old boys collection. The biggest problem comes about when shellac … Show Printable Version; 06-29-2015, 01:09 AM #21. car2. Once dissolved in alcohol, shellac does not last more than 6-9 months at the most. View Profile View Forum Posts Stainless Join Date Sep 2009 Location Apex, NC Posts 1,573 Post Thanks / Like Likes (Given) 1 Likes (Received) 775. Liquid shellac sold in hardware stores is often marked with the production (mixing) date, so the consumer can know whether the shellac inside is still good. Shellac has a definite shelf life. But everyone who has used shellac for a while knows that the longer the shellac has been in its dissolved state the slower it dries and the less hard … Always dissolve shellac as and when needed. We'll bring you the most relevant peer-to-peer conversations happening in the trade and tips and tricks to help you get the job done. Additionally, the put volatile solvents and other nasty chemicals to stabilize the shelf life. What is needed for the job at hand use is that once mixed with alcohol ( ethanol ) a. 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To-Go containers work well, and then should be a few months can use denatured.. A couple months plastic salsa / to-go containers work well, and stored properly, has... Mixes I AM trying are in clean jars and are still in the trade and tips and tricks to you! Good idea to buy shellac ready mixed or you can buy shellac ready or. How to judge when it is stored are likely quite old, came from a long retired boys.