seedlac Reprinted with permission. American Association of Woodturners

ShelLlaca Beectle The Shell of the By Alan Lacer

re you looking for a film finish polish, and padlac. that offers the quick-drying Even the experts are fooled at Shellac defined A qualities of lacquer but the low times. In a recent article in a In its raw state, “lac,” as it is odor of water-based finishes? Or a prestigious woodworking known, is a secretion of the finish that offers more color magazine, the author criticized female lac that protects choices but with better clarity than shellac as a finish for wood- her eggs, and later the larvae many other finishes? This finish is turnings in high-wear applications (that also produce this subjected to poor labeling and and then recommended lacquer as substance) from predators and applied by many who don’t even the best alternative. The problem the elements. Found on trees in know it. In addition, it may be the was, the author’s recommended India and across to , most under-used and the least lacquer was padding lacquer— the lac beetle is a parasitic scale understood of finishes. which is essentially shellac. that congregates in large You may have guessed by now It is a sad commentary on the colonies on particular species of that it’s one of the world’s oldest finishing world that many trees. The word “lac” is derived finishes, too: shellac. companies fail to list the ingredi- from a word for As evidence of misunderstand- ents of their products. Knowing 100,000—an allusion to the ings, shellac is the primary solid those ingredients DOES make a enormous clusters of these material in products sold as difference when you are choosing a as they naturally occur. woodturner’s finish, padding finish for particular applications lacquer, friction polish, French and for concerns over shelf life.

56 American Woodturner Summer 2005 picture/mirror frames. Shellac grade acquires another name: Waxed and also gets high marks for retarding seedlac, button lac, garnet, ruddy dewaxed shellac moisture-vapor exchange—a val- amber, beige, orange, super blond, In addition to dye, wax is another ued quality for laminated turnings. lemon, platinum blond, blond, naturally occurring component of And where shellac has limita- ultra blond—and with many of shellac. Some manufacturers add tions, it can go under most other these offered as waxed or dewaxed. wax as a dulling agent or—it is film finishes or serve as a sanding It is probably best to investigate believed—to improve flow. sealer for such finishes as lacquer. the descriptions and samples from However, wax in the shellac is a shellac dealer to know what you often a source of problems. Wax Grades and refinement are buying (see sources opposite). makes the shellac more prone to Most of us recognize shellac as a All of this may be somewhat water spotting and softening, plus liquid from a can—and in that confusing, but make an educated reduces hardness, clarity, and form it has been offered most choice based on the effect you are ability to stick to other finishes (a commonly in either orange or after: Use the lighter end of the problem if you are using shellac white (today these are often spectrum for keeping the color of under or over another finish). labeled “amber” or “clear”). your wood or use degrees of For these reasons, I recommend If you consider shellac as dry refinement to add color or warmth dewaxed shellac flakes. If you need flakes, there are many more to a wood. For instance, I find that a little more protection, more options. In its unrefined form, the clearer appear cold on luster, or scratch resistance, apply shellac is sold as stick lac (raw lac walnut or cherry, but the dark wax after the shellac has dried. with twigs and bug parts shellacs add warmth to the wood included). As raw material, it is while maintaining clarity. Shelf life and loaded with the and Today shellac is still offered in a product labeling considerable natural wax, so it number of forms: liquid (often as Applying old shellac is a source of appears to be a dark reddish- orange/amber, clear/white), negative experiences. My first brown color. Each refinement aerosol cans, paste, and dry flakes. exposure to padding lacquer on

All the products shown here contain shellac as the primary ingredient.

58 American Woodturner Summer 2005 Garnet shellac flakes

Make your own shellac Shellac is mixed and sold in liquid Second, it’s always easier to thin form as “pound cuts.” This means rather than thicken—especially the amount of solid particles when working from flakes. (shellac) in a gallon of liquid. For reference, remember there Shellac is mixed most commonly are 128 fluid ounces in a gallon and with alcohol. There is some debate 16 ounces (by weight) in a pound. about what type of alcohol is best. To guarantee freshness, mix Some alcohols have too much small batches. Use glass or water, are too toxic (methanol), or specially coated metal containers. dry too slowly. You can purchase For my finishing, I most often mix proprietary mixes of shellac solvent 11/2- to 2-pound cuts to fill 4-ounce (usually different types of alcohols), baby-food jars. Here are some 190- or 200-proof ethanol alcohol, useful proportions for mixing 200-proof denatured alcohol smaller quantities of shellac: (ethanol with a little poison added so folks won’t drink it), or denatured A 11/2-pound cut of shellac alcohol (often sold as solvent 1/2 cup (4 fl. ounces) of alcohol alcohol) from the hardware store. + 3/4 ounce of dry shellac I have tried most of the above forms of solvent, and they all Even after two hours, the outdated A 2-pound cut of shellac 1 shellac (top drip) is still mushy. The dissolve the shellac flakes. Because /2 cup (4 fl. ounces) of alcohol fresh shellac (bottom drip) dried I haven’t detected a noticeable + 1 ounce of dry shellac uniformly. difference in the finished product the lathe was a disaster. I had a when I’ve blended the shellac flakes A 4-pound cut of shellac with the pricey 200-proof varieties, I 1/2 cup (4 fl. ounces) of alcohol soft, nasty finish that came from stick with the affordable hardware + 2 ounces of dry shellac using an outdated product. store variety. Contrary to some claims, If you mix 1 gallon of alcohol For larger quantities simply multiply the amounts above. Mixing shellac does have a shelf life—six with 1 pound of dry shellac you will create a “1-pound cut” of finished shellac and alcohol is not rocket months or less in some cases. Even shellac. science—it does not have to be unopened containers go bad—it is If you mix 1 gallon of alcohol calculated to the gram and milliliter not air that does this but the with 4 pounds of dry shellac, you to make it workable. After mixing the flakes and reaction of shellac to alcohol over will create a “4-pound cut” of finished shellac. alcohol, shake the mix periodically time. You may not end up with the Keep two important points in for 24 hours. Then, strain the blend mess I experienced, but it does dry mind when mixing your own shellac: through a painter’s strainer (looks slower, is softer, and is more prone First, the proportions and measure- like a funnel with some cheese ments are only approximations. cloth), an old T-shirt, cheesecloth, to water damage. or even a coffee filter. Some responsible manu- If you buy shellac in liquid form, facturers tell you two things: that you can reduce the cut by adding it is a shellac product and either a alcohol. For instance, if you purchase a 3-pound cut, halving date or a date to any quantity with alcohol will yield use by. My rule of thumb: If I a 11/2-pound cut—a good starting don’t know the age of the material point for spraying or padding or it has a date six months or older shellac on the lathe. from the manufacturing date, then Two sources for shellac flakes: test it—always. Here’s how: • Wood Finishing Supplies Put a drip about the size of a 866-548-1677 woodfinishingsupplies.com dime on a nonporous material • Wood Finish Supply (plastic, glass, or the container’s 707-962-9480 finishsupply.com lid) and see what happens. How After 24 hours, strain the alcohol soon does it dry? It should be and dissolved flakes mixture through dry—but not hard—in 10 minutes. a paint strainer. Continued

woodturner.org 59 Shellac for turned objects After weighing the pros and cons Strengths and weaknesses of shellac (see sidebar at right), there are First, the bad news. Shellac is a poor choice if you are numerous applications—and some finishing a turning that will be outdoors or subject to projects—to avoid. I don’t strong chemicals or detergents, heat, or alcohol. recommend shellac for a salad Shellac is a poor choice if in contact with water bowl that will be washed or in for an extended period of time (hours rather contact for prolonged periods with than minutes when applied fresh and anything wet, strongly acidic, or dewaxed). Shellac has a limited shelf life—even if alkaline. Nor would I use it for a unopened. Old shellac will not dry quickly (or goblet that would contain alcohol, not at all), will dry soft, and is more prone to or for an oil lamp or candleholder water damage. because heat is a problem for Now, the good news. Shellac does have shellac finishes. Avoid shellac in some amazing qualities. It: high-touch projects, including ink •Sticks to most everything (even glass). pens, tool handles, pepper mills, •Dries rapidly (often you can recoat in as and lidded boxes. (Hands are both little as 15 minutes). acidic and abrasive, which will dull •Works well as a sanding sealer and undercoat and wear shellac.) for other film finishes; is very compatible But when you require the with oils. appearance and protection of a film •Is easy to repair and can be reversed finish, there are excellent (easily stripped). candidates for shellac: decorative •Reduces moisture-vapor exchange (the force ultra blond bowls and vessels, funeral urns, that most often leads to wood movement shellac flakes weed pots or vases (not used with and instability) better than lacquer and water), boxes that will not be far better than water-based finishes. handled excessively, furniture legs, •Adapts to a wide array of effects by using the bed posts, chair parts, balusters, natural dye in the finish. Among choices are Christmas ornaments, jewelry, darker grades for darker woods or for an antique spinning top bodies, and look and highly refined grades that do not noticeably change Continued the color of the wood—especially good on light-colored wood. •Is light-fast, non-yellowing, and relatively hard (when fresh, made without wax) but also flexible. This is why shellac was used for bowling alley floors. •Can be applied easily on the lathe or sprayed. •Is not as temperature and humidity sensitive as water-based finishes. Even darker grades have a clarity that is hard to achieve with added color to accomplish a similar effect. Most attempts to create a single synthetic substitute with shellac’s multiple uses have fallen short. Shellac is much friendlier to the environment and the person applying the finish than the solvents and thinners used with most other finishes. It’s nontoxic when dry.

woodturner.org 57 Within a day does it feel hard to turn for the easy. Start with the the fingernail? shellac of your choice in an If the shellac can pass these approximate 11/2- to 2-pound cut. basic tests, it is probably safe to To this, add a small amount of put on the wood. To avoid any olive oil or mineral oil; if using risk of using an outdated finish, 4 ounces (1/2 cup) of shellac, begin mix your own from flakes. It’s with 1 tablespoon of oil. Next, more cost effective if you make form a pad from lint-free soft fabric little batches as needed—you (avoid T-shirt material). I first won’t have reason to throw out apply alcohol to soften the rag and partially emptied cans, and you keep the shellac in solution longer. will know it is fresh. Shake the shellac and oil mix to blend the two together, then apply Fail-safe French polishing a generous amount to the rag. With Unlike the early Indian turners, the lathe at a medium speed (800 we do not usually hold dry shellac to 1200 is plenty) flow on the against the wood—we normally shellac and oil mix. If you feel a bit work with liquid shellac. Brushing of drag from the rag, add a little is an acceptable method for the more oil. furnituremaker, but most When everything is right, the woodturners prefer to spray shellac flows out with no ridges Shellac spray hits a 6! tall turned shellac or pad it on the lathe. and begins to dry in minutes. piece. By leaving the tenon intact, this piece will be returned to the French polish was first an Don’t be in a huge hurry to apply a lathe to be rubbed out. application method and not a second coat—you may simply product. French polishing means remove what you just put on. I For more versatility in types of applying liquid shellac with a pad wait at least 30 minutes to apply a shellac and always to assure a and a little oil as lubricant to avoid second coat—even longer is better. fresh batch, mix your own for sticking. French polishing has the Build a film by applying several spraying from a gun. An reputation of being difficult and thin coats. After 24 hours, remove automotive detail gun (about $60) requiring a lot of magic—but that any traces of the oil by going over with a small plastic cup is ideal for is for folks working on flat stock. the piece with a rag dampened with most turning projects—and cleans With the ability to apply shellac mineral spirits, naphtha, or toluene. up quickly. Limit the amount of on the lathe, application takes a time you leave the shellac in a Spraying shellac metal cup, as it may discolor in There are two ways to go about the contact with the metal. process of spraying shellac: spray A good starting place is the cans containing pre-mixed same 11/2- to 2-pound cut shellac or a spray gun. described on page 59. If using Generally, premixed shellac as a sanding sealer or spray cans have a lighter washcoat, thin it down to about a grade of shellac, so are 1-pound cut. If thinned with somewhat of a limitation denatured alcohol, be sure to wear if you wish to make use of the a mask rated for organic vapors. natural dye in other grades of Apply light coats, allowing at least shellac for effect. But this 15 minutes between coats. When method is still at the height of possible, sand lightly between convenience and requires no coats with 400-grit stearated paper special equipment. or fine synthetic steel wool.

Super blond shellac flakes

60 American Woodturner Summer 2005 Dewaxed orange shellac flakes

Finishing the finish No matter how careful you are in Long history spraying or padding on the lathe, Mention of lac material goes back several thousand your film finish will still need a years. Early on, the material was valued for medicinal little work. This is where the purposes but even more so for the lac’s natural dye. th ability to put the piece back on the As a wood coating, shellac is first mentioned in 16 - lathe is a major advantage for light century Western literature by a British visitor to India, sanding between coats or for the who was in awe of this beautiful finish. Curiously, the final rubbing out. reference was to a woodturner applying shellac. After allowing the finish to start curing (give it at least a day), go “They take a peece of Lac of what colour over the final coat with synthetic they will, and as they turne it when it commeth steel wool or 400-grit or finer to his fashion they spread the Lac upon the stearated paper. For a satin finish, whole peece of woode wich presently, rub on an automotive polishing with the heat of the turning (melteth the waxe) compound (I’ve used Turtle Wax Polishing Compound) or a finish so that it entreth into the crestes and cleaveth paste such as Behlen’s Finish Rub. unto it, about the thicknesse of a man’s naile: A higher gloss requires finer grits then they burnish it (over) with a broad straw of finishing compound and wax. or dry Rushes so (cunningly) that all the woode This final step enhances the is covered withal, and it shineth like glasse, beauty of the finish and allows most pleasant to behold, and continueth you to adjust the luster level. If as long as the wood being well looked unto: desired, apply wax to increase the in this sort they cover all kinde of luster or improve scratch resistance. household stuffe in India.” Despite being one of our oldest From Shellac; Its Production, Manufacture, and most reliable finishes, shellac Chemistry Analysis, Commerce and Uses still holds enormous possibilities –Ernest Parry, London, Sir I. Pitman and Sons, Ltd., 1935. for a woodturner. I suggest you experiment with shellac in its different forms and colors. You This dry application—using friction on the lathe—is might just discover a great new possible as lac starts to soften at only 150°F. By the 19th look for your turnings. century, the methods of refining and combining with You really have nothing to lose, alcohol reached a high level—as did the esteem placed as shellac strips well simply using on this glossy film finish. Up to that time, wood was solvent alcohol. most often finished with oils, waxes, or both—often flat in appearance or short-lived with luster. French polishing was popularized as a method to apply liquid Other places shellac using a pad to produce a relatively clear, deep, you’ll find shellac glossy finish that is valued to this day with • As a coating for time-released pills • As a binder for chemicals in sparklers conservators, some furniture and musical instrument • Adding gloss to fruits and vegetables makers, and perhaps more than a few woodturners. • Adding shine (sold as confectioner’s Shellac remained popular through the early 20th glaze) to candy, including jelly beans, gum balls, and some chocolates century until lacquer became dominant. • Gluing the glass bulb to its metal base on light bulbs • In hair spray Alan Lacer (www.alanlacer.com) is an American Woodturner • As a coating for fresh wounds contributing editor. He lives near River Falls, Wisconsin. on newly trimmed trees

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