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Is this the right stuff for making shellac from flake? Everclear ain't allowed up here, and I'm not sure what they call denatured alcohol around here.

I think you can use that or the pharmacy will have 99% Isopropyl Alcohol. They keep it behind the counter and you may want to dress nice or they might not sell it too you.

Methyl hydrate is an old term for methanol. Methanol or "wood alcohol" is what is often used to denature ethanol. It is toxic and causes blindness. So if you won't use regular denatured ethanol, I doubt you will want to use methanol.

Isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol) will dissolve shellac albeit more slowly. It will also flash off more slowly than ethanol. Frankly, ethanol is probably best for shellac.

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Randy Muth
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+1 on the 99% Isopropyl Alcohol, available at London Drugs.
It dissolves slowly, although I have heard of folks using a dedicated coffee grinder and a rock tumbler to dissolve....
I have only used it in a light cut as a seal coat and works just fine....

Hmmm. In another thread isopropyl was not recommended because it had too much water. I guess what I should ask is, what product readily available in Canada is the best for making shellac? I have iso and I'll use it, but I'd rather use an ideal product.
Is everclear ethanol? What are the rest of you Canadians using instead of everclear?

As noted, regular rubbing alcohol is totally unsuitable as it contains too much water.
However, in Canada, we can readily get 99% Isopropyl (Life Brand, London Drugs) which works just fine.
Shoot Jeff at Wood Essence a line - as a distributor he has much experience in this area, and recommends 99% Isopropyl to cut shellac if you don;t have access to pure ethanol.
It is also a safer product to use than methyl.....

I'm currently using shellac dissolved in methyl hydrate to fp 2 bodies and it works fine. No complaints at all.

Steve

In Canada you can get shellac thinner from Lee Valley that will disolve shellac flakes.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... ,190,42942

Also you will be able to find denature ethanol at specialty finish stores. I bought a jug of it last year. If you live close to a city you shouldn't have to much trouble finding it. I don't live close to the city so I picked some up when I was in Toronto.

Josh

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Make friends with your local moonshiner. On second thought ......an awful waste of good shine....!!!!
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This 100% Pure Anhydrous Denatured Shellac Solvent works very well but I don't know if Joel has a distributor in Canada:
http://www.brooklyntoolandcraft.com/supplies.htm
I got mine at Woodcraft.

Hey Josh, I found the Lee Valley stuff to be incredibly strong smelling. I tried it and couldn't take it. It also didn't seem to dissolve the flakes quite as well as methyl Hydrate.

Steve

I use Methyl Hydrate I get at Home Hardware.

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Dave
Milton, ON

Excellent info folks, thanks.
I had assumed 99% isopropyl was rubbing alcohol, which I gather was an erroneous assumption. I already have some over the counter isopropyl so I guess I'll give that a go first and see how it works.
Is there any health difference between the methyl and the isopropyl as far as health concerns? I will be trying to spray the mixed shellac. (in a ventilated booth with a respirator of course)

what if you mixed methyl hydrate with 99% alcohol? Would that make denatured alcohol?

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I would recommend the Shopper's Drug product rubbing alcohol compound Life brand, 95% ethanol anhydrous. At about $5.00 per 500 ml.

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Michael Lloyd

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I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

Methanol works better than isopropanol. Wear an appropriate mask and gloves.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

If you are near the Quebec border you can go there for 94% ethanol, but it is 77 dollars for 1.75 liters. Or go to the Montreal guitar show this July and pick up a bottle while in Quebec. This is the stuff you want http://www.saq.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=94201&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=&top_category=

Bob

I use Methyl. Just be cautious and you'll be fine. Gloves and respirator. No different than spraying any finish product.

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