paul_stone41•2mo agoProlific Poster

Finally got a handle on why my shellac was setting up so fast

Kept having my 2-pound cut go tacky in the jar after just a few hours, even in my cool basement shop. Watched a video from a guy in Maine and realized I was mixing it with a metal stir stick. The metal was warming the alcohol and making it evaporate way quicker. Switched to a plastic paddle and now a mix lasts me a full day of work. Anyone else run into this with their shellac?

2 comments

2 Comments

emery182mo ago

That cool water trick is smart. I'd also check if your alcohol is fresh, old denatured alcohol can pick up water from the air and mess with the dry time.

reese_lane292mo ago

Metal stir sticks are the worst for that. They pull heat right out of your hand and dump it into the mix. I keep a few cheap plastic paint stirrers just for shellac now. Also, try putting your mixing jar in a shallow bowl of cool water while you stir, it helps keep the temp down.