Shellac manufacture

[Woodwould]

An interesting video on the manufacture of shellac.

YouTube - Shellac Origins and Manufacture

[RETIRED]

Good find WW.:2tsup:

[Castaway]

Amazing. Not much has change in nearly 100 years. Great to actually see where and how its made. Thanks Woodwould

[Old-Biker-UK]

Fascinating...
A LONG time ago as part of the research for a dissertation on Natural Gums & Resins I managed to get hold of quite a few samples including various examples of shellac as it went throught the production process, from the encrusted twigs to the fine flakes. Still have them somewhere...
Mark

[3 toed sloth]

Thanks Woodwould, a pleasure to watch.:2tsup:

[Claw Hama]

THanks WW, what type of shellac do you use?

[Woodwould]

THanks WW, what type of shellac do you use?

Much depends on the job at hand, but because I don't use as much shellac as I did when in business, my 'go to' polish nowadays is U-Beaut's pre-mixed White Shellac. It's excellent quality and convenient. I also buy garnet flakes and other natural and synthetic resins and mix my own concoctions as required.

[silentC]

Wow. I knew it was a manual process and had read about the steps, but actually seeing it is mind boggling.

So I guess the take home message is use it or lose it....

[Phil Spencer]

Looking at the video if it was grown and processed here we would not be able to afford it!

[munruben]

Great vid WW thanks for sharing with us. :2tsup::2tsup:

[Woodwould]

I wonder though, if the lac insect was introduced here and a lac industry established, if it couldn't be made profitable through mechanisation and a more modern extraction technique.

I think the stumbling block would be the introduction of the insect and the trees it requires (unless suitable trees already exist here).

[FRB Design]

Also FineWoodworking magazine has a five page write-up by Vijay Velji in the Dec edition, quite a good read.



Regards,


Frank.

[Afro Boy]

Another wonderful find WW.

I'm quite amazed at how much work goes into making a 1kg bag of flakes. :oo:

[Woodwould]

The next time you eat a Clinker, just remember that bloke with the sheet of shellac between his teeth!

[Bob38S]

Thanks for sharing the find.

[jmk89]

BTW I have Vijay's DVD on French Polishing. If you are interested you should buy a copy. It is certainly worth the modest purchase price.