Ub Shellac Not Hard Enough?

**Barry F** · 23rd October 2006, 12:39 PM

I understand that a test for shellac freshness is to put a drop on a hard surface ie glass, leave overnight & it should be hard enough to resist the indentation of a fingernail
Have some of UB White shellac (expiry date july 2007) and tried this test and whilst the surface film is quite tough it can still be indented by a fingernail after two days
I would really like the surface to be hard enough for sanding. Is there a hardener that I could add?
Best Regards

Barry

**ubeaut** · 30th October 2006, 12:49 AM

Sorry Barry just found this.

Did you thin it before trying the test. Should be thinned about 50/50 with metho.

**Barry F** · 30th October 2006, 01:26 PM

No I didn't

Have tried 50/50 and can now see a better result - many thanks

By the way just to get some perspective on mixing shellac, what is the shellac:metho ratio of the UB hard shellac?

So much to learn - so little time

Best regards

Barry

**ubeaut** · 30th October 2006, 10:43 PM

A little over a 4 lb cut if that means anything to you.

Thats 4 lb shellac to 1 gallon of meth

**martink** · 30th October 2006, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by ubeaut

A little over a 4 lb cut if that means anything to you.

Thats 4 lb shellac to 1 gallon of meth

I've just discovering the wonders of shellac, just bought a Kg of the u-beaut orange flakes (rather than the small container - in for a penny in for a pound - couldn't resist the pun sorry

. Am playing with it at the moment and am having a lot of fun. Most of the measures are in pound cuts which might not help those of us who are mostly metric so I have done up the calculations for each of the cuts.

1lb cut = 125g shellac flakes 1043 ml metho
2lb cut = 125g shellac flakes 521 ml metho
3lb cut = 250g shellac flakes 521 ml metho
4lb cut = 500g shellac flakes 521 ml metho

I think these calculations are right - but please do the math yourselves and let me know if this is wrong.

As a side thing, what mixes do others use and how do you apply it? Would be interested to know as all of this seems to be a black art to me.

M.

**kiwigeo** · 31st October 2006, 01:29 AM

Using 1.5 to 2lb cut Liberon blonde shellac for French Polishing my guitars.

**Barry F** · 1st November 2006, 09:39 PM

Here are notes that I made to try & get a clear perspective on Shellac Cuts

SHELLAC CUT
1lb cut means 1lb per gal<O

</O

(Imperial gal is (8 x 20oz) 160oz 4544ml – US gal (8 x 16oz) 128oz - 3629ml) <O

></O

>
1 oz = 28.35gm 1fl oz = 28.41gm Round both off @ 28.4 to make it easy

MIXING RATIOS
US Cuts 1lb = one to 8 2lb = one to 4 3lb = one to 2.66
IMPERIAL Cuts 1lb = one to 10 2lb = one to 5 3lb = one to 3.33
<O

Eg. Imperial 2lb/gal Cut 4oz (114gm) shellac to 1pt (20 oz)(568ml) ethanol (100% meth) to Ratio one to five

Any corrections welcomed

Best Regards

Barry

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