Shellac question

[Twanger]

I read on a US based forum about shellac'ing an amplifier covered with tweed cloth covering as they did in the good ole' days. They mentioned a brand Bullseye and "denatured" alcohol??

I see that I can get an orange shellac from this page but what is denatured alcohol??

Cheers,

Twanger

[ubeaut]

Metho

[soundman]

If you have found a source of twed cloth or brown tolex for that matter I would be interested to know.

[Twanger]

Soundman,

I have heaps of US suppliers but the best is right here in Oz down in Melbourne.

Go to www.retrosound.com.au you'll find everything you need, including about 8 different Toles'. Greg is a great guy and excellent service. Can I ask what are you building/restoring?

Cheers,

Twanger

[Alex]

Ethil alcohol is alcohol that is posible to find in any whiskey, vodka...... but methil acohol is very poisonous thing with similar caracteristics but once inside human body in mildest circumstances could couse blindnes, deafnes and further can couse even death. That's why is named "denatured alcohol". So in any ethil alcohol you can add 50-60% of water some aditives for taste and you can make a good drink but "methil" ..... don't even try to put in you mouth.

[Neil]

Very good Alex. However it is Ethyl alcohol or Ethanol, also known as 100% IMS, Industrial Methylated Spirits, Methylated Spirits, denatured alcohol etc.

Not to be confused with Methynol or Methyl alcohol which is nasty stuff and not to be used in shellac. It is however used as a denaturant in Ethanol to stop people from drinking it.

Ideally you use Ethanol or Industrial Methylated Spirits (100% IMS) as the thinner for your shellac as it does not contain water. Normal everyday metho off the shelf contains water at the rate of between 5 - 10% and even as high as 40% insome of the cheaper brands. This will stop you from blending other solvents and dyes with the shellac and may also help create bloom or a frosted look in the polish when used in humid conditions.

Cheers - Neil

PS You cannot buy pure Ethyl alcohol off the shelf. You need a special liscence and it takes almost an act of parliment to get you one of those. So don't try blending anything with any Ethanol you manage to purchase as it is ALL denatured and will make you very sick and could cause serious resperatory problems and much worse if you vomit it up.

We use Ethanol for our shellac and friction polishes, it is denatured with about .025% pyridine and methynol, enough to stop even the most hardened drinker from partaking.

[Oldblock]

Neil

Your discourse on meths etc was very informative.
Can you do the same for Naptha? This is often mentioned in Fine Woodworking, I'm guessing it is turps but no doubt you can put me right.

...please!

Ray

[Neil]

Ray - Have a look at this thread (CLICK HERE) It pretty well sums up the whole naptha thing.

The short story is that naptha is similar to mineral turps but with a quicker evaporation time.

Cheers - Neil

[Oldblock]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Neil
[B]Ray - Have a look at this thread (CLICK HERE) It pretty well sums up the whole naptha thing.

Thanks Neil, I (clicked there) had a look and came out more convinced more than ever that my aging brain is not what it used to be (too much Naptha?). However now that I have printed it out I can study at my leisure (in bed, on the loo, during commercials etc) but you have very adequately dealt with my question for which I thank you.

All I have to do now is figure out what the answer was.

Ray