2 lb. Now pour in the shellac flakes up to the first line and then add denatured alcohol up to the second line. May be applied at container consistency if desired. cut, would become 240 grams per liter, not very felicitous phrasing, but the same solids percentage. (16 Oz.) When mixing shellac from flakes or buttons, you can scale down the ratio of cut to make a suitable amount. Bulls Eye Shellac is pre-mixed in a 3 lb. Usually shellac is made up of denatured alcohol, which is meths by the way, and shellac flakes. In general, applying multiple thinner coats will be easier and deliver better results than applying a few heavier coats. 300 ml is three times our base formula of 100ml, so for a 24-gram cut (formerly a two-pound cut) multiply 24 by the same factor of 3, and in your head, without a pencil or calculator or chart, you will instantly know to add 72 grams of shellac. A 2-lb. In our shop the coolest place, outside the fridge, in hot weather is on the cement slab under the bench. dried flake per pint). of resin dissolved in a gallon, etc. cut of pure, clear, dewaxed shellac - so of course it's imbued with more than a little magic. I never mix-up shellac in one gallon quantities but prefer to do this in small amounts - Thus I usually add 1 ounce of dried shellac flakes to 8 ounces of denatured alcohol to get to my 'one pound cut' concentration (this also equals 2 oz. cut of shellac is 2 lb. Sure it's easy enough. A useful rule of … of shellac. (40 Oz.) Historically woodworkers mix shellac in "pound-cut" ratios. For example, to make a 2 pound cut … When viewed this way, the nomenclature… the naming… of the cut factors is self-evident. volume of a 2-lb. cut (i.e., approximately 3 lbs. cut shellac = 1/4 oz. Since few people would use a gallon of shellac for a project and because liquid shellac has a relatively short shelf life ( approximately 6 months ), it is best to mix up only what you think you will need. Zinsser's Bulls Eye brand sealer is a 2-lb. Because this product is a natural, renewable resource, it's now being marketed as an environmentally friendly, natural-looking alternative … Wipe off all sawdust using a tack cloth. It is easy, repeatable, and very accurate. Still to convert the Seal Coat to 1 lb. This tends to Flake 1.5 Lb. In general a "2 Pound Cut" is a good place to start. See the following chart: This is insanely easy. Denatured alcohol volume Ounces of shellac fl akes to be added to alcohol 1-pound cut 11⁄ 2-pound cut 2-pound cut 21⁄ 2-pound cut 3-pound cut 1 gallon … Of course they are each different by a minute or two and I cringe when the power goes off forcing me to reset them all, but the real question all these digital displays raise is whether or not people in the future will know where the terms "clockwise" and "counter-clockwise" originated? of shellac resin dissolved in a gallon of alcohol. Fill a squeeze bottle with the mixed shellac. For what we now refer to as a "two-pound cut," add 24 grams of shellac to 100 milliliters of alcohol, and for the heavier "three-pound cut," add 36 grams of shellac flakes to 100 milli… It contains more than 30% of free wax alcohol with chain length of C 28 –C 32.It also contains a small amount of hydrocarbons and about 1% lactic acid [61,62].. Mix the shellac to a 2-pound cut, following a shellac mixing chart. Thus a 2 pound cut means 2 pounds of shellac flakes dissolved in a gallon of alcohol. cut to 1 lb. of shellac in 1 gal. Congratulations, you now have an approximate 2 lb cut of shellac. "Finishing" The Metric Conversion – Shellac Mixing The Metric Way, • In the United Kingdom, the use of the international pound was implemented in the Weights and Measures Act 1963. Brushing on shellac requires a fine, natural or china-bristle brush. When America and a couple of other non-metric hold-out countries are eventually dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century metric measurement world, I wonder if woodworkers of that future generation will still use the term "two-pound cut" and will they know what it means or how it came to be? Shellac flakes + alcohol = shellac finish. A hot water bath can assist in cold weather. Any dilution ratio in between these numbers is also easy to calculate. In my kitchen the microwave, the stove, two coffee makers, and my refrigerator (for crying out loud!) Half way between 12 and 24 is 18, and 18 grams of shellac flakes in a 100ml of alcohol will give us the equivalent of today's 1.5-pound cut, but without a lot of calculation. There may be sediment and organic particles depending on the type of lac. there are scales or ratios for smaller quantities but they are useless in Europe as we use metric ratios. of alcohol produces a half-pint of 2-lb.-cut shellac. cut to 1 lb. Instead of one-pound, two-pound, three-pound cuts, we can now use the terminology 12-gram, 24-gram, and 36-gram cuts. Charts abound that allow users to mix lesser quantities of shellac, since using the product fresh is ideal. cut would be 5 lb. Never fear… I, the humble down-to-earth woodworker, have come up with the answer. A more general cut is a 1# cut. Colinsthename May 2, 2016. Shellac dries hard and won’t yellow or darken with age. For what we now refer to as a "two-pound cut," add 24 grams of shellac to 100 milliliters of alcohol, and for the heavier "three-pound cut," add 36 grams of shellac flakes to 100 milliliters of alcohol. Since shellac dries quickly, be careful to avoid drips or blotchy areas when applying because unlike other finishes, you will likely not have time to over-brush to … That is one pound of shellac per 1 gallon of Everclear. Flake 2.5 Lb. The UK Weights and Measures Act of 1878 first defined the imperial pound in terms of metric units (1lb = 453.59265g) , and in 1893 the Mendenhall Order defined the United States pound by describing a kilogram as equivalent to 2… of alcohol). This is your shellac flake line. For a full-finish wood coat, a ratio of two pounds of shellac per gallon of alcohol is common and known as a two-pound cut. In general a "2 Pound Cut" is a good place to start. Remember, the lb cut of shellac is just a number. 5  Sand the Project . Store your shellac, tightly stoppered or sealed, in a cool dark location. Pound Cut 2.5 Pound Cut Three (3) Pound Cut One Gallon = 128 Fluid Oz. A 3# (3lb) cut is thinned 3 lbs of shellac flakes to 1 gallon of denatured alcohol solvent. Shellac. show the time. Several thinner coats are often easier to apply and finish than few heaver coats. cut” doesn’t make any sense. Thus a 2 pound cut means 2 pounds of shellac flakes dissolved in a gallon of alcohol. It is also easily scalable. Thus it’s a solids:liquid ratio based on liters. cut 3/4 pt to 1 qt (.37 l. to 1 l.) shellac 3 lb. Woodworkers that routinely use shellac use the terms "two-pound cut" or "three-pound cut" to describe the dilution factor of shellac to alcohol. To mix 1 pint of 1 Lb. The international avoirdupois pound is equal to exactly 453.59237 grams. Sort of off topic.. Noticed this not too long ago! There’s a handy chart here that helps you through the math for smaller portions. The higher the pound cut, the higher the resin content. While many prefer a “two-pound cut,” I prefer to apply more thin coats than a few thick coats. Btw, if you only want to use a scale for measurement, 100ml alcohol weigh 78,9g. We find straining through a paint strainer first then through T-shirt or multiple layers of cheese-cloth helpful. The weighing of shellac flakes, measuring the denatured alcohol, and mixing the two is somehow very satisfying, as is the ability to "fine-tune" the viscosity for the project at hand. 1 lb. Flake 3 Lb. This is the number of pounds of shellac flakes or pearls to one gallon of denatured alcohol. I assumed there was some way to crack the … of shellac flakes dissolved in 16 oz. And then there’s the whole shellac terminology thing: 1-pound cut, 2-pound cut, waxed, dewaxed, … Temperatures under 60° F will slow the dissolving. oz. If you simply remember that to make a very light dilution of shellac (equivalent to our old "one-pound cut"), add 12 grams of shellac to 100 milliliters of alcohol. I am a shellac loyalist because it is easy, beautiful, and its application gives me the same kind of connection to the finish that a hand plane gives me to the wood. cut to 2 lb. 4 lb. If you want a two pound cut, multiply the formular with 2, for a four pound cut with 4. I mistakenly used a 2:1 cut of shellac as a seal cut on oak. work methods, tools, weather, and environment will dictate your 'pound cut' preference. A 3 pound cut is generally reserved for priming or sealing of stains, and sap, or knots prior to painting, … cut is roughly equivalent to 240 g. / L. 120 g./L shellac = .12 g. / mL. Remember when the rush was on to put an eleven-cent chip and LED readout into every conceivable appliance to tell us the time? cut liquid shellac use approximately a 2:16 ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol (2 oz. Multiple thin coats of shellac are more effective than Next Page. But … Keep alcohol and liquid shellac away from open flame or burners. A 1.5 pound cut is a good choice for a size or sealer coat of shellac. we need to do away with the one-pound, two-pound, three-pound cut nomenclature and come up with easy-to-remember metric names for our various dilution levels. Want to mix up a quantity not on the chart? The heavier the cut, the greater the amount of shellac resin, or "solids”, that is dissolved in the same volume of alcohol. For the metric system, “lb. I am no finishing expert like Alan Noel...in fact, I am quite the neophyte, but this is exactly the reason I am such a fan of shellac. Using the metric system we can now refer to a "12-gram cut" or a "24-gram cut" and know exactly what we are talking about. Shellac is sometimes used as a wooden floor polish, having been used as a glossy finish for bowling alleys. Raw shellac contains 60–80% pure shellac, 4–6% shellac … Refer to the chart below for thinning directions. Use a one-pound cut (one pound of shellac flakes in one gallon of alcohol), which can be sprayed through any spray gun that will spray lacquer; Filter the dissolved mixture to remove the undissolved solids/leftover crud; Spray thin, even coats (24 Oz.) My attempt to recover was to scape and sand it off and reapply a diluted cut. cut for a wash coat you mix 3 parts of Seal Coat to 2 parts of alcohol and those parts can be any measure you want.. It also helps that it is easy to apply and easy to repair. • form of shellac used by woodworkers as a finish is formed by dissolving flakes of shellac in an alcohol solvent You can, of course, easily thin down a thick shellac. There are 3.8 litres in a US gallon and a pound weight equals 450 grammes. Flake 2 Lb. A 5-lb. Heavier liquid cuts can be used however it is best to apply several thin shellac coats rather than a few heavy ones. I use ultra-blonde shellac, which is the highest (and … Shellac is mixed in “cuts” which refer to the proportion of shellac flakes (measured in pounds) to solvent (measured in gallons). Working out the measuring side of mixing Shellac Flakes can be quite confusing especially if you’ve have never heard of a 1-pound cut, 2-pound cut. Let solution stand in a warm environment (with occasional agitation) until shellac is completely dissolved. of shellac resin per gallon of alcohol). In the US they use a term ‘cut’. Several thinner coats are often easier to apply and finish than few heaver coats. Make your liquid shellac solutions using a high grade Denatured Alcohol (190 proof is ideal for dissolving shellac flake) and also, Behlen Behkol Denatured Alcohol. cut 2 qts to 1 qt (2 l. to 1 l.) shellac 3 lb. 240 g./L shellac = .24 g./mL. How much, if any, did I mess up the seal coat? Add shellac to the liquid (crushing button lac will speed dissolving). Mobile Sanding Center – Design Criteria, • The shellac is dissolved in alcohol and measured in "pound cuts," which is the number of pounds dissolved in a gallon of alcohol. alcohol. About half-way down from the first line mark another line. It bonds tenaciously to virtually any bare wood or finished surface; it dries very quickly, sands smooth with the … The concentration of Shellac used for wood treatment is commonly known as the "pound cut", which refers to the number of lbs of Shellac dissolved in one US gallon (0.83 Imperial gallons or 3.79 litres) of denatured … 3  Tinto, ... J. Roach, in Pharmacognosy, 2017 22.10.2.3 Composition of Shellac Wax. For a small amount of mixed shellac, like 100ml = 0,1l, which is enough for small projects this results to: x = 0,1l * 453,6g / 3,785l = 11,98g ~ 12g. I use a magnetic stirring gizmo. 'Pound Cut' (the weight of dry lac cut into alcohol) designates viscosity or thickness of liquid shellac. Stir or Shake every 15 -30 minutes. The simplest method for “cutting” an accurate mixture is to start with 1 pound of shellac flakes combined with 1 gallon of denatured alcohol. If you simply remember that to make a very light dilution of shellac (equivalent to our old "one-pound cut"), add 12 grams of shellac to 100 milliliters of alcohol. W.F. This thicker solution is usually too thick but can subsequently be thinned and adjusted to the work in hand. 1  So a 1-gal. Since few people would use a gallon of shellac for a project and because liquid shellac has a relatively short shelf life ( approximately 6 months ), it is best to mix up only what you think you will need. cut shellac contains only 1.66 lb. Update...The Natural-Edge Coffee Table Project. Mix what will be used within 3 months. The larger container will allow for the volume increase from adding the flake. 2  Sgian Dubh wrote:A 1/2 lb cut means you should put 1/2 lb of shellac flakes into a US gallon of alcohol, aka meths, industrial meths or industrial alcohol in the UK. Always use a Dewaxed Shellac as a primer under paint or as a seal-coat under clear finishes. (Page 1 of 5) of flakes to 8 oz. It is easy to use the chart below to make as little as 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of shellac, a full gallon, or almost anything in-between. cut 3 pts to 1 qt (1.5 l. to 1 l.) shellac Why Shellac is thinner in Warm Weather Alcohol expands under heat and also becomes a better solvent for shellac. • A “2-pound cut” is a good starting point. Once mixed, shellac begins to degrade. Shellac wax is made up of long-chain esters of monovalent alcohols and acids. Legendary Sharpening - No Skill Or Effort Required, • (32 Oz.) I had a chemistry set as a child and loved mixing up concoctions, pretending to be the next great inventor. of alcohol, you displace the original volume by 20 percent, thus giving you 1.2 gal. Seal Coat which in US is 2 lb. In our new metric system of mixing shellac, there are really only three numbers to remember: 12, 24, and 36. In this article I will convert it into metric terms to make it easier for us here in Australia. A 3 pound cut is generally reserved for priming or sealing of stains, and sap, or knots prior to painting, especially on softer woods. Three lb. 1 Lb. For example, adding 2 oz. of shellac are dissolved. This makes it a great sealer beneath other finishes. Strain all types through cheesecloth, white cotton cloth, or paint strainer. By the way, if you are not a devotee of shellac, you should try it. So, 1 pound of flakes mixed in 1 gallon of alcohol makes a 1-pound cut. work methods, tools, weather, and environment will dictate your 'pound cut' preference. Woodworkers like it for the beautiful tone it gives to wood. One pound of shellac flakes dissolved in one gallon of denatured alcohol (ethanol) is a "one-pound-cut," two pounds of flakes in a gallon of ethanol is a "two-pound-cut," and so on. As a buddy told me years ago, "Once you shellac, you'll never go back!" total in which 2 lb. in alcohol gives roughly 1.3 gal; 4 lb., 1.4 gal, and so on.) Copyright © 2017 Highland Hardware, Inc. "Finishing" The Metric Conversion – Shellac Mixing The Metric Way, Mobile Sanding Center – Design Criteria, Legendary Sharpening - No Skill Or Effort Required, Update...The Natural-Edge Coffee Table Project. A 2-pound cut would be slightly thicker and provide a quicker build. For example, a #1 cut of shellac is one-pound (16 ounces by weight) of shellac dissolved in one-gallon by volume of alcohol. Very seldom does a mixture go beyond a 4-pound cut. Select a glass or plastic container slightly larger than the amount you are making (do not use metal). Please Read About: Denatured Alcohols • All Denatured Alcohols are NOT the Same shellac flake / 1 fl. Measurements. Dewaxed shellac is an ideal sanding sealer. Kevin Hancock: That indicates 1.5 pounds of shellac flakes were mixed into one gallon of alcohol. But nowhere could I find a chart for mixing shellac by using grams to weigh the shellac flakes and milliliters to measure the alcohol. When you dissolve 2 lb. cut is roughly equivalent to 120 g. / L. 2 lb. 4  For example, to make a 2 pound cut … Use a two or three-pound cut of shellac and apply generously with long, smooth strokes. The definition of the international pound was agreed by the United States and countries of the Commonwealth of Nations in 1958. Simply decide how much alcohol to start with, say 300 ml. Shellac should always be mixed fresh from flake form, and that is another aspect of shellac that is endearing. The pound cut is a term referring to the amount of shellac to alcohol mixture; as an example, a 2 lb cut of shellac contains two pounds of shellac mixed with one US gallon of alcohol. For Canadians, 240 grams of shellac flakes to 1 litre of alcohol equals a 2 lb cut. Michael Dresdner: What is curious is that if you mix a pound and a half of shellac flakes into one gallon of alcohol, you end up with much more … Shellac has been used as a finish for hundreds of years. For best application results thin shellac before using. So, for aspiring metric converts, I have created a metric equivalent chart: Still, though, if we are to fully immerse ourselves (in the metric system, please, not in the shellac!) Shellac requires extra work: buying raw shellac flakes (which are not commonly found in the average paint or hardware store), mixing the flakes with the appropriate amount of alcohol, and waiting for the flakes to fully dissolve. 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An approximate 2 lb cut of shellac, since using the product fresh ideal! Original volume by 20 percent, thus giving you 1.2 gal 1.5 pound cut … Bulls Eye shellac completely... By 20 percent, thus giving you 1.2 gal thinner coats are often to... Are scales or ratios for smaller quantities but they are useless in Europe as we use metric ratios shellac a. To apply more thin coats than a few heavy ones 1 l. ) 3. Thus it ’ s a solids: liquid ratio based on liters completely dissolved chart! This thicker solution is usually too thick but can subsequently be thinned and adjusted the... Multiply the formular with 2, for a four pound cut '' is a good place to start smaller... Sealer coat of 2 pound cut shellac metric flakes to 1 lb mixing shellac, you can scale down the ratio of,...