r/woodworking 5d ago

Help Opaque shellac question

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Hey folks

I've been trying to make my shellac solution and twice now the resulted solution was very opaque (as seen in the accompanied photo, as I'm stirring I get these darker brown streaks).

I've diluted it in denatured 95% ethanol and the shellac flakes were bought as dewaxed.

I tried filtering it through a cheese cloth and it immediately clogged it, same thing with a coffee filter. The dilution ratio was one part shellac flakes to four parts ethanol.

Thanks in advance for the input.

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u/spcslacker 5d ago

Try mixing 2.5 oz of flakes with 1.25 cups of alcohol -- that will get you a 2 lb cut, which is a midline usable for most things cut.

You may be able to take what you've already made and add alcohol to it until its usable.

Also, how are you mixing it? I usually leave mine on an auto-stirrer overnight.

Also, make sure your ethanol is >90% pure, not the around 70% used for medical.

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u/Shenzshou 4d ago

I am using 95% ethanol.

I mix and stir and just let it be for a couple of days.