"AAvK" wrote in message
news:JGA8e.29236$A31.28554@fed1read03...

I think the right alcohol is "anhydrous" ... means there is no h2o in it.
Sold and explained by Hock tools.

Yes and no. Truth to tell, the stuff they put in to get the last 5% water
out is about the worst (for you) part of the mix. Why 5%? Look up
azeotrope.

Then there's that other truth, that open jars and jars with a lot of air
allow the alcohol to gain atmospheric water. It's not a big deal up to
perhaps 10%.


What is the problem with waxed shellac anyway? Why the preferences
for the dewaxed variety?

As others have mentioned - it behaves like wax in its rejection of finishes
and traps water underneath to give a brighter "blush" ring. Not to mention,
there are probably some other non-polar organics extracted along with the
wax, though they may have helped, rather than hindered by being there.