Has anyone tried E85 (85% Ethanol) for Shellac Flakes?

[Nick Sorenson]

So far it seems to be working. I'm not an expert at refinishing with shellac and so far getting the worn area to blend has been a little disappointing. There is quite a bit of build and levelling that will need to happen for it to look right. Maybe I should have just stripped and refinished completely.

But the areas that were already good seem to be taking the shellac smoothly and without any blushing or other issues (that I'm aware of). It's dry to the touch in 5 minutes or less. Sanding seems to go pretty well. I've sprayed and sanded probably a hundred gallons of lacquer during my lifetime and in 15 minutes of drying this stuff sands better than lacquer does in 4 hours cure time. There are no corns loading the paper which is very nice in comparison! I generally give lacquer 12 hours before sanding and with 3M 216u or Klingspor's similar open coat product (PL36 if I remember correctly). I can already tell Shellac sands better than NC lacquer.

I need to try it with DNA for comparison. But so far, I'm not noticing any issues with the E85 gas/ethanol blend. I figured the work piece would smell like gasoline when brought back indoors. I'm not smelling gas after a half hour outdoors. The real question is if my wife notices it when the project is complete.

DSC_0777_sm.jpgDSC_0779_sm.jpgDSC_0784_sm.jpg

[Nick Sorenson]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/trj7LkLTRHHanBjB9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/y2NV4hRQGxqrcMcFA
https://photos.app.goo.gl/P9Ty2m2LfZwQXcn68


Seems my pictures aren't uploading. Will try again with hosting.

[Jim Becker]

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[Andrew Seemann]

My main concern beyond health and safety of using E85 is that the piece would reek of gasoline forever. Having worked with enough engines, it seems anything that gas gets on it permanently smells of gas.

FYI- the rubbing alcohol may have had too much water in it to dry cleanly on old shellac. There also could have been other additives (oils, perfumes, ketones, etc) that didn't play nicely with the finish.