Tried using a hair dryer to soften old shellac... and it actually worked

Had this stubborn 1920s dresser with a shellac finish that was alligatored and flaking. Instead of stripping it all off, I hit it with a hair dryer on low heat for about 30 seconds before applying a new coat of fresh shellac. The heat softened the old finish just enough for the new stuff to melt in and bond. Anyone else use heat to help with a shellac repair?

3 comments

3 Comments

michael8801mo ago

That's a clever fix. It's funny how the best solutions are often just using what's already around you (like finding out a butter knife works better than the fancy tool they sell for the job).

seana1414d agoMost Upvoted

Hold on, is stripping shellac really that big of a deal? I usually just wipe it down with some denatured alcohol and call it a day (never had an issue with adhesion).

eric_price1mo ago

Yeah, the "using what's around you" thing is spot on. I always thought you had to strip shellac completely or it wouldn't stick right. This trick actually makes sense now that I see it, since shellac is just melted bug juice. Heat it up and it becomes liquid again. Might save me a ton of sanding next time.