shellac -again on removal of

On 10 Feb, 11:43, Mel Cucurbitae <[email protected]> wrote:

> My question is on removing shellac.

Weak ammonia (5%) will strip it, even if it's old and polymerised so
that it has lost its taste for alcohol. Watch out doing this on oak
though, as anything with tannins in it will darken from the ammonia.

>I intend to spray a coat (or two) of tinted oil on the cleaned surface..

Oil is reasonable, but why spray it, and why tint it?

Sat, Feb 10, 2007, 10:43pm (EST+16) [email protected]
(Mel=A0Cucurbitae) doth admit:
My question is on removing shellac. I am restoring my first piece - a
handmade piano stool from the early 1800's(AUS). <snip>

I take it you are not worried about killing any possible antique
value.



JOAT
Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will
acquire the skill to do difficult things easily.
- Johann Von Schiller

Eagerly awaiting replies about removal of shellac and retention of patina.

Have you used oil over shellac before?

I've always used oil over oil, so that it can both soak in and dry. I did
use it a couple of times over impervious material, and each time it took a
long time (month or more) to dry, and never did set up well.

That's what I know (not much)

Old guy
Still frozen out of the shop




"Mel Cucurbitae" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My question is on removing shellac. I am restoring my first
> piece - a handmade piano stool from the early 1800's(AUS).
> No glues and completely demountable.
> I ask if anyone knows the process for removing >.5mm thick
> shellac and still retain the greater part of the original
> patina for the wood.
> That or some pointers to a resource that describes a
> process. I am well aware of the "alcohol and scrub like a
> mad thing" and that is fine if it is the _only way_.. but I
> am told (anecdotal) that "professionals" have a dip and
> scrub 3 part process..any offers on that?
> I ask as I read where there is plenty of advice here on
> how to apply a shellac finish so I figure those that know
> how to put it on would have first discovered how to
> remove it? I intend to spray a coat (or two) of tinted
> oil on the cleaned surface.. as a finish.
> ta:)
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com
>

The only other household chemical that I know of that will remove
shellac is ammonia.

I have not ever had occasion to use it on a good workpiece and I
certainly would not experiment on an antique.

I have seen furniture get "dipped" (into what, I don't know) by a
professional restoration company. They always said to customers that
there was risk of the wood cracking or splitting as a result of the
dipping process. The chemical removed many layers of paint and who knows
what, right down to bare wood.

J.


Mel Cucurbitae wrote:
> My question is on removing shellac. I am restoring my first
> piece - a handmade piano stool from the early 1800's(AUS).
> No glues and completely demountable.
> I ask if anyone knows the process for removing >.5mm thick
> shellac and still retain the greater part of the original
> patina for the wood.
> That or some pointers to a resource that describes a
> process. I am well aware of the "alcohol and scrub like a
> mad thing" and that is fine if it is the _only way_.. but I
> am told (anecdotal) that "professionals" have a dip and
> scrub 3 part process..any offers on that?
> I ask as I read where there is plenty of advice here on
> how to apply a shellac finish so I figure those that know
> how to put it on would have first discovered how to
> remove it? I intend to spray a coat (or two) of tinted
> oil on the cleaned surface.. as a finish.
> ta:)
>