Thread: How long can you keep Shellac

It lasts a few months only. I would throw it out.

It can last a while. The only way to know if it is still good is to test it. If you apply the shellac does it set up properly? If so it is still good.
I've used shellac mixed myself as long as a year after mixing.

ron

If mixed with 100% Industrial Methylated Spirits and stored in a cool dark place in a non tin container it can last up to 18 mth so long as the shellac was fresh and properly stored before you mixed it.

However all shellac is best uses when it is fresh and ideally within 6 mths of being dissolved for the best results.

Old shellac may appear to work but it may never harden properly. IE 2 year old shellac will work and appear to go hard, however if you polished a table then put a lace doily on the table after it was hard dry then put a vase of flowers or a bowl on the doily and left it for a period of time (say 1 week) then remove the object and the doily you will most likely have a beautiful imprint of the doily in the table top for ever.

Hope this is of some help.

For what it's worth U-Beaut Polishes give 18 mth shelf life on our shellacs because we know the base product is properly stored in a refrigerated unit up until it is mixed down into liquid with 100%IMS (pure Alcohol). We have a clearly marked use-by date on every bottle we produce, to help overcome the problem of old shellac usage.

Hope this helps.

Cheers - Neil