Hard vs Dewaxed White Shellac

[Grant Mack]

Greetings All,
Appreciate this subject has potentially done to death before- but!
I have gone back to using premixed UBeaut Shellac as a sealer, denibbing with 600 g and then recoating, denibing with EEE and then applying Traditional Wax or a micro-crystalline wax.
I had found that some of the wood I am currently using was going too dark using a combination sealer\varnish- along the lines of Arboroil etc.
Neil's book talks about the White but doesn't talk about the Hard Shellac but the Information Sheets # 11a & 12 gives similar properties for both products.
Are they both the same or which will give the least colouration of the timber in any one's experience?
Regards
Grant

[RufflyRustic]

U-Beaut's Hard Shellac contains wax hardener whereas the U-Beaut's White Shellac does not. Both give the colour of wet timber when applied. So you could use either.

cheers
Wendy


Fixed

[Jim Carroll]

They are both dewaxed shellacs but the hard has as indicated a hardner in there as well and also a plasticiser to allow it to move.

Guys using the original hard shellac on guitar bodies found that the finish was great but with body heat on the guitar the finish crazed so the plasticiser was added to allow the finish to move with the wood.

Hard shellac is great for table tops etc.

[Grant Mack]

Thanks Wendy & Jim,
Your explanations help heaps.
I am using it on turnings but found that the grain on some of the figured timber eg Lace Sheoak was getting too dark to see the way I was doing the finish.
I am happy using the shellacs then waxing.
Will be interesting to see what happens with age or as Richard Raffan says- shape is ultimately what will make a piece once the finish has gone.
Cheers
Grant

[Darklord]

as Richard Raffan says- shape is ultimately what will make a piece once the finish has gone.

That's a copout from someone who's finish is all but gone before it leaves the shop where it's being sold. Had a look at his work at Bungendore once and the finish looked terrible, what there was of it.

Good woodturner, but his wax finish leaves a lot to be desired what you are using would be far superior.

Darky