transporting shellac flakes

[daninjt]

My favourite hardware shop in Jakarta has stopped carrying decent wood finishes, so I was considering bringing back some shellac flakes in my suitcase to Indonesia.

Can anyone tell me if they are classed as flammable, causing trouble with airlines?

Cheers,

Dan

[astrid]

are shellac flakes inflammable,
i wouldnt think so
but dont ask an official because they wont no so theyll say no
just take it in
but it might be worth phoning aqis our quarrantine mob and asking if they carry any bug risk
if we get them in from india i wouldnt think this would be a problem either

astrid

[daninjt]

Thanks Neil and Astrid - even though your reply somehow fell off, Neil.

Dan

[kiwigeo]

Definitely not inflammable....shellac is only inflammable once you add the alcohol solvent.

Shellac flakes are an inert product. Shellac is actually registered as a food product by the FDA in the US...it's used as a coating on medicinal capsules etc.

You have two options taking the stuff back into Indonesia......1. try and explain to the Indonesian customs boys what the stuff is (good luck!) or 2. shell out a few bucks and walk through with the stuff.

Cheers Martin

[Neil]

Yeah what did happen to my post... That's weird.

You may also be able to get it in Indonesia as that is one of the only other places in the world that it is grown. Yes it is grown (as an excretion from the beetle).

Cheers - Neil :)