Thread: Gun for spraying shellac

I asked U-beaut about spraying shellac and got redirected towards 'restorers choice' with the suggestion made to add their shellac retarder to shellac you're spraying but I haven't actually tried it myself yet.
Shellac Retarder for easy application French polish – Restorers Choice

I tried it with a few ukuleles last year and didn’t like the results. I used Ubeaut hard shellac and cut it 50/50, I used my gravity fed 25psi gun. Although it atomised well, it wasn’t the same as using 2pac or acrylic lacquer where thinners evaporates faster. You will use much more shellac as a fair proportion of it will not end up in the product you want to coat. I ended up with a bit of orange peal in the process and ended up sanding it back to flat and French Polished the ukuleles to finish.
I have done a fair amount of spraying in the past with both 2pac and acrylic lacquer, so I understand how it all works.
I chose to use shellac how it was designed and French Polish with it instead.

A low cost, but very capable gun.


On its way to being finished the traditional way.



A recent Jewellery box French Polished.

Thanks Cal, this is very interesting information. Very much appreciate you sharing your extensive experience.
with the Workgroup P-102G, what compressor size do you recommend?
our local paint store said this is their most popular gun.
Congratulations on that beautiful FP finish on that jewellery box, looks magnificent

You are welcome!
Because it’s only a 20-25psi gun you should be fine using it for small boxes. The longer a gun runs the more air you go through and the more the compressor has to start to replenish the air you use. I use a large 3hp compressor, but I bought it to spray our kitchen that I built.
The more cycles a compressor does, can create more moisture in the tank which comes out of the gun. Water vapour in any finish is not ideal. I also have an automatic discharge for the tank to remove moisture and a moisture trap for the gun. For what you are doing and for the size of compressor, buy a water trap when you get the gun and you should be ready to go.

Hi Cal, just found on our local Paint Warehouse site this P-102G pulls 420 litres /minute and needs a 12cfm 2.5hp compressor. I don’t think that my small 110 litre / min FAD 2.5hp unit will do.

i do have access to a 3hp 320 litre /minute FAD 60 litre tank compressor Mechpro sold by Repco. Do you think this will be adequate and not cause the compressor to overwork?

Finally, what size needle jet would you recommend for #1 lb cut of shellac mixed 50:50 with ethanol. It would be very watery

Eldest som is a plumber, so hoping to make a radiator of copper tubes to capture moisture, as well as an inline moisture trap on the gun

Yep, you are probably right about the one you have not having the poke to run the gun.
The bigger one you have access to should be able to cope with it.
Use the fine needle in the gun, the others supplied with the gun are for undercoat and spray putty.

Thanks Cal, you have been very helpful. Will get the P-102G gun for $110 locally, and use the Repco Mechpro 60litre compressor with 320 litre Free Air Delivery, and ise the 1.4mm diameter needle.
This is a huge advance in my knowledge and way forward for me. Thanks again.
What a great forum
Merry Christmas !!