Thread: Shellac drying time?

Originally Posted by outback

I'm on a deadline thingy, so I need to know the dead set minimuim drying time for shellac, before I can put on a coat of wax. Usually I don't have an issue with this, I just leave it a day or two or more..... BUT today I gotta get it done.

G'day Mate!

I've applied wax after as little as four hours, albeit on a pretty warm day.

I know that that's much too short a period really, but I tried it on an offcut shellaced at the same time as the item in question, and it seemed ok, so gave it a whirl and seemed fine.

I would suggest a test piece first though!

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

I would suggest a test piece first though!

Cheers!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: He hasnt got time for a test piece. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Al

Go for "Broke" then?

I guess you've done it by now but I yesterday I shellac'd and waxed within the same hour ,,, and in a few places it shows! Fletty

I'm with Fletty, I've Shellaced and waxed with an hour or so. I applied the UB Trad wax with steel wool, gently, over UB Shellac.

My one and only disaster was shellacing in the rain. Bloody disaster, just had to re do the whole table. White mist everywhere.

Provided the temps above about 28 C, it seems OK.

I should add, as a rider, that my standards are abyssmally low.

I'm too new to disagree with anybody, but wouldn't it depend on the shellac type (flake, button, etc), the mix, whether there was a hardener added and finally how many coats had been applied? I've run into problems rubbing a piece after a few hours that had a dozen or so thin coats.

I left out weather considerations...if you're shellacing it must be fairly dry!

BTW, do you use a brush or a "swooge"?

Thanks for the replies. As you've guessed I have had a delay. Who is has as his signature, "I love the whooshing sounds of deadlines as they go by". Well that's me.

I have been a tad busy since an hour after asking my question. You may have seen on the news we have a little bushfire near here. Burnt around 2500 Ha so far. :eek: Add to this a major search yesterday morning, and I've managed about 4 hours sleep for the last three nights.

I haven't been near the piece which needs the wax, should be dry by now though.

Greenies to all I'm allowed to.