Q: After a few days of drying, my shellac still has a tacky feel to it. What causes shellac to remain sticky and is there something I can do to alleviate this problem?
Greg Williams: Premixed shellac has a definite shelf life, in most cases. Evidence of old shellac is its refusal to dry properly. Remove the old shellac and reapply, using fresh product. There is a shellac by the name of
Zinsser SealCoat which has quite a long shelf life, and is readily available.
Kevin Hancock: Wash it off with denatured alcohol and start over with fresh shellac. Shellac breaks down over time by a process called esterification during which the shellac resin converts to shellac esters. The more esters in the mix, the slower it dries and the softer the final finish.
This article originally appeared in the Woodworker's Journal eZine.
Click here for information on this free, twice monthly online publication.
Copyright; 2010 Woodworker's Journal
All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval devices or systems, without prior written permission from the publisher.
|