OCtoolguy Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Once again, The People's Republic of California has bitten me in the butt. All I want is some denatured alcohol to remove some shellac finish. I can't buy it because I'm not old enough to understand why it's so bad for me. Can anybody give me any suggestions on how to dissolve the light shellac finish I sprayed on my latest project. I have to remove it because the padauk sanding dust got into the maple and has bled the red into the white. I learned a huge lesson here but that's beside the point. I need some help on what to do since I'm too stupid to understand the state laws. Absolutely absurd laws here. So, I'm begging for help. Thanks to anybody who has a constructive suggestion. FrankEV and Sycamore67 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrankEV Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 10 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said: Once again, The People's Republic of California has bitten me in the butt. All I want is some denatured alcohol to remove some shellac finish. I can't buy it because I'm not old enough to understand why it's so bad for me. Can anybody give me any suggestions on how to dissolve the light shellac finish I sprayed on my latest project. I have to remove it because the padauk sanding dust got into the maple and has bled the red into the white. I learned a huge lesson here but that's beside the point. I need some help on what to do since I'm too stupid to understand the state laws. Absolutely absurd laws here. So, I'm begging for help. Thanks to anybody who has a constructive suggestion. Move! OCtoolguy, JTTHECLOCKMAN, Gene Howe and 5 others 3 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill WIlson Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Diluted white vinegar will dissolve shellac. I use it for cleaning up brushes, containers & such when applying shellac. I've never used it to strip a finish, so I don't know how well it will work. Put some shellac on a scrap piece of wood and give it a try before using it on a project. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Yep I have always heard vinegar will work on shellac. I have never tried it. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjweb Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Ray, yes i heard that vinegar will work but had not a need to try it, RJ OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preprius Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 (edited) also call your local Rockler shop. or woodcrafters Edited December 29, 2023 by preprius OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Drive to Arizona. And maybe stay a while. Gene Howe, MarieC and OCtoolguy 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 everclear! BadBob, TAIrving, OCtoolguy and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharleyL Posted December 29, 2023 Report Share Posted December 29, 2023 Are you all aware that Home Depot now sells small stills? Maybe you could make your own alcohol for future projects and party enjoyment since the result is Not Denatured. (DIY Ever Clear!!). I guess the alternative is to have a woodworking buddy in Arizona meet you at the State Line for a picnic and exchange. Charley OCtoolguy and Roberta Moreton 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 2 hours ago, CharleyL said: Are you all aware that Home Depot now sells small stills? Maybe you could make your own alcohol for future projects and party enjoyment since the result is Not Denatured. (DIY Ever Clear!!). I guess the alternative is to have a woodworking buddy in Arizona meet you at the State Line for a picnic and exchange. Charley Oh yep,,, hick, I am aware....! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted December 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 5 hours ago, FrankEV said: Move! We are thinking very seriously about doing just that Frank. Gonna look at a few places in Arizona this Spring. danny and FrankEV 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted December 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 4 hours ago, Wichman said: everclear! Not familiar with that. Can you expand on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Grain alcohol available p to 95% pure. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preprius Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 https://www.painttalk.com/threads/denatured-alcohol-substitutes-for-dissolving-and-cleaning-shellac.97819/#:~:text=A gallon of ammonia can,denatured alcohol can cost %2412.&text=A strong solution of 20,shellac flakes and clean brushes.&text=Everclear%2C 190-proof grain alcohol,drink it) will also work. I have tasted strawberry ever clear boy did it burn going down. Smelled just like strawberries. Borax soap is still available. OCtoolguy and TAIrving 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyred Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 I have dissolved shellac in 91% rubbing alcohol. Seems to work just fine, so I imagine it would also take off dried shellac. Tom OCtoolguy and barb.j.enders 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ctutor Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 boat fuel at your local boat supply store will fill the bill OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz Weir Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 3 hours ago, OCtoolguy said: Not familiar with that. Can you expand on it? Everclear = moonshine. Homemade distilled liquor with a proof of close to 200 (i.e., close to 100% alcohol) OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Use 91% isopropyl alcohol if you can get it. Everclear (95% alcohol) is perfect though expensive. You can buy Everclear at a liquor store. There are lots of others that may work, but they may damage your project. Everclear is a brand name for rectified spirit, also known as grain alcohol or neutral spirit, produced by the American company Luxco. It's made from grain, typically corn, and bottled at various alcohol-by-volume (ABV) levels. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) In AZ, I buy camp stove fuel. It's close to 100% alcohol. It might be available in Kaliforny. Edited December 30, 2023 by Gene Howe OCtoolguy and BadBob 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Just out of curiosity, I checked my local Florida big box stores to see what the current price for alcohol was. Neither Lowes nor Homedepot have any. What is up with that, I wonder? Ace Hardware has it in 5-gallon cans, and I can buy it in gallons on Amazon for $30. I need to check the price for Everclear. OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAIrving Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 The big box stores here in the Republic of Texas also do not have denatured alcohol. So how are we to make our own shellac? BTW Ray @OCtoolguy,the alcohol dissolves the pigment from paduak. You do not have paduak sawdust in your maple, you have paduak pigment in your maple. Using alcohol to remove the shellac will only dissolve more paduak pigment and make the problem even worse. Regrets, but I do not have a solution to how to get the paduak pigment out of the maple. JTTHECLOCKMAN and OCtoolguy 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) 7 minutes ago, TAIrving said: The big box stores here in the Republic of Texas also do not have denatured alcohol. So how are we to make our own shellac? BTW Ray @OCtoolguy,the alcohol dissolves the pigment from paduak. You do not have paduak sawdust in your maple, you have paduak pigment in your maple. Using alcohol to remove the shellac will only dissolve more paduak pigment and make the problem even worse. Regrets, but I do not have a solution to how to get the paduak pigment out of the maple. This is so true. I do not know the project you refer to but is it possible to use a card scrapper or other small fine scrappers to remove not only the shellac but will better than sand your final piece. In the turning world when people do segmented work they do not sand mixed woods. they use sharp tools to remove tool marks and also get down to final size and shape. Good luck Edited December 30, 2023 by JTTHECLOCKMAN OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 12 hours ago, preprius said: https://www.painttalk.com/threads/denatured-alcohol-substitutes-for-dissolving-and-cleaning-shellac.97819/#:~:text=A gallon of ammonia can,denatured alcohol can cost %2412.&text=A strong solution of 20,shellac flakes and clean brushes.&text=Everclear%2C 190-proof grain alcohol,drink it) will also work. I have tasted strawberry ever clear boy did it burn going down. Smelled just like strawberries. Borax soap is still available. Hey, Mark, does the borax burn as much as ever clear going down the gullet? OCtoolguy, Gene Howe and TAIrving 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted December 30, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 Thanks everybody. I guess I made firewood. TAIrving 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted December 30, 2023 Report Share Posted December 30, 2023 11 minutes ago, OCtoolguy said: Thanks everybody. I guess I made firewood. WOW! The powers that be allow open burning? Gene Howe and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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