Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has the wax
in it and you either get it in its standard form (or waxed), or you get
it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example, if
you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state? I
assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would they
even sell it in that form?

Jack

"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" wrote:

Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has the wax
in it and you either get it in its standard form (or waxed), or you get
it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example, if
you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state? I
assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would they
even sell it in that form?

Cheaper?

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

In article ,
lid says...
"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" wrote:

Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has the wax
in it and you either get it in its standard form (or waxed), or you get
it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example, if
you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state? I
assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would they
even sell it in that form?

If there is wax in the shellac you cannot use it as an undercoat for
anything else. I would suppose the wax is when you use only the shellac.

LDR wrote in
:

In article ,
lid says...
"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net"
wrote:

Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has
the wax in it and you either get it in its standard form (or
waxed), or you get it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example,
if you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is
better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state?
I assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would
they even sell it in that form?

If there is wax in the shellac you cannot use it as an undercoat for
anything else. I would suppose the wax is when you use only the
shellac.


That's true. It's also supposed to be more durable, and more waterproof
when used in it's 'waxed' state. For floors, for example, before the
arrival of more modern coatings.

Patriarch

Patriarch wrote:

snip

If there is wax in the shellac you cannot use it as an undercoat for
anything else. I would suppose the wax is when you use only the
shellac.



That's true. It's also supposed to be more durable, and more waterproof
when used in it's 'waxed' state. For floors, for example, before the
arrival of more modern coatings.

Patriarch


Just the opposite. Shellac containing wax is what causes the finish to
get water rings. Wax is also soft and accelerates finish wear.

--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA

(Remove -SPAM- to send email)

mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net wrote:
Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has the wax
in it and you either get it in its standard form (or waxed), or you get
it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example, if
you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state? I
assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would they
even sell it in that form?

The wax makes the shellac easier to sand. It may also have some impact
on drying time and flowability, but I've never really noticed any
significant difference.

R

"no(SPAM)vasys" wrote in
:

Patriarch wrote:

snip

If there is wax in the shellac you cannot use it as an undercoat for
anything else. I would suppose the wax is when you use only the
shellac.



That's true. It's also supposed to be more durable, and more
waterproof when used in it's 'waxed' state. For floors, for example,
before the arrival of more modern coatings.

Patriarch


Just the opposite. Shellac containing wax is what causes the finish
to get water rings. Wax is also soft and accelerates finish wear.


Really? I guess that I can't just believe everything I read on Usenet. ;-)

So dewaxed shellac is LESS susceptible to water rings?

Patriarch

On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:58:52 -0600, "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net"
"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" wrote:

what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state?

Cheaper to make

More stable when stored as a liquid
Dewaxed and bleached shellacs are much fussier than straight button or
garnet.

Easier to sand. The wax acts as a lubricant, so your paper doesn't clog
so easily.


I buy most of my shellac (I use a lot) as a cheap waxy liquid grade
(Screwfix button and garnet). Only the good stuff do I buy as dewaxed or
as flake. Before using the waxy stuff I decant it by standing the
bottle for a week then gently pouring away the top 3/4 as "dewaxed". The
waxy residue I keep as sanding sealer or knotting.

Patriarch wrote:


Just the opposite. Shellac containing wax is what causes the finish
to get water rings. Wax is also soft and accelerates finish wear.


Really? I guess that I can't just believe everything I read on Usenet. ;-)

So dewaxed shellac is LESS susceptible to water rings?


Very much so. I've seen claims that freshly mixed dewaxed shellac won't even
get water rings without a lengthy exposure, but I haven't tested that
hypothesis yet.

And dewaxed is also the best at slowing the exchange of water vapor.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_bas...d_shellac.html
is a forum thread on shellac and wax/dewaxed comments. Might be
helpful to visit.

On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:58:52 -0600, "mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net"
"mywebaccts (at) PLUGcomcast.net" wrote:

Okay, I know that shellac doesn't actually come "waxed". It has the wax
in it and you either get it in its standard form (or waxed), or you get
it "de-waxed".

I've read plenty on the virtues of de-waxing shellac. For example, if
you want to use it as a primer or conditioner, dewaxed is better.

But ... what are the advantages of leaving it in its waxed state? I
assume that there must be some advantage, or otherwise why would they
even sell it in that form?

Jack

I left a piece of dewaxed-shellacked fir outside for the month of
February a few years ago just to see what would happen. No snow, just a
lot of rain and I covered half of it with foil. The only change was the
exposed portion of the wood was darker from sunlight (what little there
was). The shellac showed no change at all from all the water. Then I
left some wine drops on it overnight, again, no effect. Shot-glass with
some vodka on the surface left an slight indentation and a hot mug of
tea will leave a ring as the heat softens the film. Water? Ha! Wine? Ha!
Distilled spirits? Clean them up before going to bed. Hot mug? Use a
coaster.

Freshly-mixed, dewaxed shellac is remarkably durable and quite
waterproof. (Ten zillion lac bugs can't be wrong...)

Ron
www.hockfinishes.com

Larry Blanchard wrote:
Patriarch wrote:


Just the opposite. Shellac containing wax is what causes the finish
to get water rings. Wax is also soft and accelerates finish wear.


Really? I guess that I can't just believe everything I read on Usenet. ;-)

So dewaxed shellac is LESS susceptible to water rings?



Very much so. I've seen claims that freshly mixed dewaxed shellac won't even
get water rings without a lengthy exposure, but I haven't tested that
hypothesis yet.

And dewaxed is also the best at slowing the exchange of water vapor.



--
Ron Hock
HOCK TOOLS www.hocktools.com

Ron Hock wrote in
:

I left a piece of dewaxed-shellacked fir outside for the month of
February a few years ago just to see what would happen. No snow, just
a lot of rain and I covered half of it with foil. The only change was
the exposed portion of the wood was darker from sunlight (what little
there was). The shellac showed no change at all from all the water.
Then I left some wine drops on it overnight, again, no effect.
Shot-glass with some vodka on the surface left an slight indentation
and a hot mug of tea will leave a ring as the heat softens the film.
Water? Ha! Wine? Ha! Distilled spirits? Clean them up before going to
bed. Hot mug? Use a coaster.

Freshly-mixed, dewaxed shellac is remarkably durable and quite
waterproof. (Ten zillion lac bugs can't be wrong...)

Ron
www.hockfinishes.com


I've used a couple of pounds of your shellac flake, several years ago when
the Woodcraft in my (almost) neighborhood carried it. Hadn't seen it
lately, though. Good stuff.

Patriarch