Thread: Ozuku JNat: problem using shellac

I got a big Ozuku a few days ago and have been sealing it with shellac. It was coated around 5-6 times I think with a little over an hour between coats (the container said to wait an hour between coats). The stone needed a lot of lapping work done, so I decided to do that earlier today, about 18-20 hours after the last coat of shellac went on. After lapping in slightly warm water, I noticed that I was leaving a ton of fingerprints in the shellac. I switched to colder water, but I was still putting fingerprints in it. After the stone dried, the shellac looks really thin and 2-3 small areas have wrinkled and come off. The sides are really wrinkly, thin, and dull looking whereas the untouched areas are glossier. Even those areas are easy to mark with fingerprints.
Anyone know what's going on? Do you know if I can use some other kind of sealant over the shellac that would be more waterproof and ok for the stone? I was going to use water based polyurethane, but the terrible hardware stores near me don't have any.

Oh and the shellac is Zinsser Bulls Eye Clear Shellac

I use wax-free shellac and have no problems.
What kind of shellac do you use?

This stuff: Zinsser Bulls Eye Clear Shellac. Zinsser 00304 Clear Shellac Finish & Sealer Qt 3lb
How can I tell if it's wax free? I looked on the can, but there was nothing about wax on there.

I just read on that link that you're supposed to thin it. I didn't do that. Could that have been the problem?

I used Poly with good results, I've used it on Escher labels too, and a couple of other things with no problems...

Originally Posted by zib

I used Poly with good results, I've used it on Escher labels too, and a couple of other things with no problems...

I have, too, but had read here that just about anything would be ok so I went with the shellac. If there was water-based polyurethane at any store nearby, I would have gotten it. The issue is that I don't think I can use polyurethane over shellac...

Originally Posted by heirkb

This stuff: Zinsser Bulls Eye Clear Shellac. Zinsser 00304 Clear Shellac Finish & Sealer Qt 3lb
How can I tell if it's wax free? I looked on the can, but there was nothing about wax on there.

I just read on that link that you're supposed to thin it. I didn't do that. Could that have been the problem?

it should say on the can I use the same brand.

Originally Posted by mainaman

it should say on the can I use the same brand.

I think you probably have the SealCoat stuff from Zinsser. That's their wax-free version. Apparently the Bulls Eye line is not wax-free...

I like shellac for head cement on my trout flies, but that use consumes it verrrry slowly and I've learned that old shellac takes up water from the air. Once it's taken up some critical amount it doesn't dry properly in any amount of time.

I have no idea how long that is. But anyway, try a brand-new can from a store whose stock turns over quickly. Or you can go hard-core and buy shellac flakes from a high-end woodworking outfit and make your own. I think the solvent is just denatured alcohol.

Good luck with it.

Here's a different point of view:

I was having some issues using water-based lacquer to seal a stone, so I posed a question to the stone's seller (an acknowledged expert who's dealt with literally hundreds of Jnats, whose privacy I'll respect). He said he never seals his stones, as he prefers them to look natural (duh). In > 25 years in the business, he's never had a stone delaminate. Sounds good to me.

If you'd like a minimally-used can of Minwax water-based polycrilic, let me know.

Originally Posted by wsfarrell

Here's a different point of view:

I was having some issues using water-based lacquer to seal a stone, so I posed a question to the stone's seller (an acknowledged expert who's dealt with literally hundreds of Jnats, whose privacy I'll respect). He said he never seals his stones, as he prefers them to look natural (duh). In > 25 years in the business, he's never had a stone delaminate. Sounds good to me.

If you'd like a minimally-used can of Minwax water-based polycrilic, let me know.

I was like that, too, until I had a stone start to develop some cracks. I'd rather try to preempt that if there's anything I can do. If I can figure out how to proceed, I may take you up on the offer on that can, thanks