Shellac products - Shelf Life

I've got a bottle of Sanding Sealer and a bottle of Hard Shellac which I bought from UBeaut some time ago. The hard shellac has a use by date of 05/2005 so I guess it's a goner. The sanding sealer hasn't got a date on it but I bought it around the same time.

Two questions: I think the sanding sealer will be a goner too, I think it's shellac-based and so would have a similar shelf life?

Is there anything I can use these for? Don't want to chuck them out but I don't want to use them if they're going to cause me problems, I need all the help I can get with finishing.

I asked Pauline this question at the wood show one year. She said to just dilute the shellac and use it as sanding sealer.

Good oh. I guess the sanding sealer will be ok then, probably why there's no use by date on it.

Although shellac can be used as a sanding sealer, I would think if you said sanding sealer most would think you are meaning nitrocellulose based sealer. If this is the case the sealer won't smell much of metho and you should probably have thinner for it ( if you have used it).Metho will mix in with it but it really need a better quality solvent for best performance.

Shellac is prone to damage from heat so the better quality N/C sanding sealer is usually there to make your finish superior to having shellac on it.

If it is N/C based it should last more than 10 years in a sealed tin ( possibly 20 years.)

There is no shelf life on the Sanding Sealer, however your Hard Shellac is probably shot. It won't work as a sanding sealed so best to just chuck it. Sorry. Left over Dewaxed White Shellac can be thinned with 8-10 parts metho to make a sanding sealer but not the hard..... I don't think. Never really tried it so maybe it will work.... who knows.

Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

Cheers - Neil :)

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I would think if you said sanding sealer most would think you are meaning nitrocellulose based sealer

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That is if they are unfamiliar with the products of our host :wink:

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Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

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I think I'll keep it for something that doesn't matter :)

Thanks!

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Originally Posted by ubeaut

There is no shelf life on the Sanding Sealer, however your Hard Shellac is probably shot. It won't work as a sanding sealed so best to just chuck it. Sorry. Left over Dewaxed White Shellac can be thinned with 8-10 parts metho to make a sanding sealer but not the hard..... I don't think. Never really tried it so maybe it will work.... who knows.

Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.

Cheers - Neil :)

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I've diluted hard shellac to use as a sanding sealer for my work benches prior to waxing and no problems, but it wasn't past its shelf life.


Peter.