47 replies to this topic

[lord_dranack]

The shellac I had was mixed from airfloat to chunks, and took me along time to grind down by hand.
I think it's also used for coating fruit to make the skin shiny and waterproof, so some of thosegrades may be for that.

[Steve]

Cheers.

Yeah, i remember trying to grind some shellac once, didn't work out, started using accaroides instead.

Steve

[Dan]

ok this might seem like a stupid question but i have honestly searched on the forum and cant find the exact answer.
Ok last weekend i went to a woodworking shop where i live and bought some lemon/orange shellac and it is in flake form. i was wondering if i should grind it up into powder form, dissolve it in alchohol first (if so how much alchohol), or should i just mix it in in its original form?

thx for the help
Dan

[BigG]

First, if it is in flake form ? you should powder it.

Second, the uses depend on what you use it for. If it?s for stars, and the binder called for is alcohol (it probably be a mixture of alcohol and water 25%-30%), then that is what you should use. If it?s for varnish, then you will probably use nitrocellulce lacquer?

[Dan]

BigG i was thinking about using in in a charcoal star formula and it says not to mix it with water. i was only going to use the shellac for stars. BTW what is the best/easiest way to powder shellac?
Thx
Dan

[paul]

Shellac is very brittle, so it is hard to powder it with mortar and pestle. Ball milling works great for powdering shellac. But very fine (airfloat) shellac powder is quite a mess to work with. So try to get your hands on powdered shellac.

I think for charcoal stars you should better use water and dextrine etc. as a binding agent.

[Dan]

i guess i will just put shellac in the ball mill just for about 20 minutes or so as i had already bought the stuff thx paul and BigG.
Dan

[chris17]

Here:
http://www.rydenor.c...ls.html#blshell

Is the orange shellac they supply in powder form?

[fishy1]

Your a useless numpty! I spend frickin hours putting together ChemDATA and you dont even bother to check it
Bah!
P.S - Look at your current mood

[Edited on 21-4-2003 by Richard H]

where's the link for this chemdata you put together, it sounds useful.

EDIT: yes, i searched, but all i found was this thread and a link to the BPS.

Edited by fishy1, 07 February 2006 - 05:17 PM.

[Richard H]

It will reappear on the new site with many other things. Similar to the chemical dictionary on Passfire.com.

[fishy1]

ok, i see.

any idea of when the new site will be up?

[Plays with Fire]

Can I use this alleged 'shallec' you speak of to coat my blackmatch, instead of NC lacquer?

With blatant disregard for human life,
Plays with Fire

Edited by Plays with Fire, 13 February 2006 - 12:16 AM.

[fishy1]

does anyone know what shellacs solubility in alcohol is roughly?

[Mumbles]

I don't know it's full solubility, but a 10-12% solution in ethanol(or methylate spirits) is usually used. This is both used for furniture and pyro uses.

[pyrotrev]

Is it just me, or is shellac a pain to ball mill???? Because of it's hard, shiny, flaky form it seems to slide down the sides (I've just got plain round milling jars, can't sem to find any octagonal ones for my little mill) rather than tumbling over and over.