Is Black Japan just black shellac?

[Thomidog]

Hi all - newbie here hoping that someone can tell me exactly what Black Japan is... Is it just ornary shellac with a black stain added or a different beast altogether? I have bought a federation turned leg very dark stain table and I'm seeking to touch up some of the damaged bits. I have shellac flakes, and some Feast Watson Black Japan, and what I notice is that shellac is soluble in metho, which is the same stuff you can use to rub back a table like this - but Black Japan is compatible with turps, which cleans but doesn't really dissolve an old dark finish like this one... So I'm just trying to figure out my chemicals basically and whether it's ok to just pour it all together on the table top and give it a good scrub and see what happens :eek: no not really but you get the idea. The Black Japan is so shiny it seems like shellac.. Is it? Thanks :)

[ozwinner]

Black japan is bitchumus based, if you want a good recipe for some, send me your email address.

The file is too big to post here.

Al :)

[MathewA]

Can you send it to me also [email protected]

[Santalum]

Black japan is bitchumus based, if you want a good recipe for some, send me your email address.The file is too big to post here.

Al :)
Funny how things sometimes fall into place, at the moment I am refinishing 2 old cast iron beds, stripping the paint with a heat gun, under the numerous layers of enamel/acrylic etc there is a black finish that melts and smears, wondered what it was now I suspect it may be black japan, btw it comes off easily with paint stripper.