Qs for Neil and Others

[Wolfs]

I am about to try some ubeaut Hard Shellac. What do you think of it? Does it need extra time between coats compared with normal shellac and if so how long. And what is the magic that makes it a shellac finish resistant to alcohol and how resistant is it really? And finally, can it be repaired as easily as normal shellac?

[rsser]

From an earlier thread...

Use normal shellac for your first coat or two, and yes, it is harder to repair. It's not resistant to alcohol, since that's what meths is - did you mean resistant to beer? ;-}

[ubeaut]

If you use normal shellac first it has to be dewaxed white shellac. Otherwise the regular shellac and the hard may move at different rates causing crazing down the track.

It is harder and does resist marking from alcohol, water and heat when cured. The secret ingredient is basically melamine and some other secret stuff which I am not about to divulge. Use it as you would any other shellac. It does however need the extra time of around 3 weeks for the cross linking to take place in the surface after it is dry. Until then it will still be susceptible to marking like normal shellac, this susceptibility will diminish during the curing time.

It will be harder to repair than regular shellac but not as hard as polyurethane or an epoxy.

Hope this is of some help.

Cheers - Neil