How long does it take shellac to dry and harden?

[Harry Thornton]

I have my little walnut pot hanging under a lamp shade with the light on so it warm and the humidity is fine. It was sprayed on and has a fairly thick, smooth coat. Is there any hard and fast rule on how long it should take to totally harden?

[Jim Guy]

About 10 to 15 minutes to dry. I will wait at least 24 hours before rubbing it out.

[Stephen Dixon]

Shellac should be fast drying, if you are having trouble with it staying tacky, then the shellac has gone bad and should be discarded. One of the problems with shellac is that it only stays usable a few months, that is why most people mix their shellac from flakes as needed.
If your shellac has gone bad, not to worry, it is easy to wipe your project down with denatured alcohol and start over.

Steve