Yes, you absolutely can dissolve shellac in methylated spirits (denatured alcohol), as it's the standard solvent for making shellac finishes like French Polish; however, be aware that commercial methylated spirits often contain water and additives, which can cause cloudiness (blooming) or slower drying, so using 100% alcohol or dewaxed shellac with pure alcohol is best for clear finishes.
94% CDA suitable for thinning all shellac products and cleaning tools.
Pure 200 proof alcohol dissolves fresh shellac flakes faster and more completely for a crystal-clear solution.
To make the dissolving go faster, you can reduce the flakes to powder (for example, in a blender) or place the container in hot water. With both methods you still need to stir, however, until the shellac has dissolved.
Methylated Spirits (100%) is also used for dissolving all natural resins that are alcohol soluble, such as Gum Sandarac. Carefully applied to dried acrylic films it can help soften the film, making removal easier.
You should not use methylated spirits on painted, varnished, or lacquered surfaces, certain plastics (like acrylics), inside kettles, or on skin, as it can dissolve finishes, damage materials, or cause skin irritation; always spot test first and use in well-ventilated areas due to its flammability and strong fumes.
Common additives include methanol, isopropyl alcohol (IPA), acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK).
In a properly labeled glass jar (do not use metal or plastic), measure the desired amount of dry shellac. Pour in Behkol solvent or denatured alcohol and set the mixture aside to dissolve.
Denatured alcohol is perfect for shellac. Its as pure as you can get with a tiny bit of the denatured solution to make it un-drinkable and therefore alcohol tax free. Also note if using on an instrument I recommend hard grade shellac. Its got an additive to make it not dissolve again after 21 days.
Based on what I've read and my own experiments, I am confident we can dissolve shellac in methanol, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol just fine — as long as there is little water in solution, and the solids aren't allowed to settle and clump.
Shellac Thinner - 95% Denatured alcohol 4547
Denatured alcohol at 95% is the solvent for all shellac flakes. It will desolve the flakes to obtain base coats or top quality varnishes. For the proportion and usage, see Shellacs and Varnishes section.
Shellac is an amorphous, thermoplastic and tough resin, which forms high-gloss films. It is soluble in low alcohols (ethanol) and aqueous-alkaline media but stable against hydrocarbons. It is physiologically harmless and biodegradable.
The shellac will dissolve in pure, strong alcohol (99.5%) in about one day. Weaker alcohol can take much longer - up to a week.
Mineral spirits is similar to naptha in that it won't harm the shellac, but could leave a slight bit more residue.
Just add more solvent to your existing Shellac mixture and mix. It's really simple. Remember the proportions of flakes and alcohol you used, and add approximately 10% more of the original alcohol. So, say that your Shellac was mixed with 100 grams of ethanol alcohol; consider adding 10 grams more and mixing.
It is processed and sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish.
Oddly enough, shellac will generally NOT dissolve in Acetone by itself. It needs a polar solvent to dissolve. You can make it dissolve in Acetone by adding a little water or alcohol to it, but alcohol seems to work best.
Behlen Furniture Refinisher easily removes shellac, varnish, or lacquered finishes on furniture, cabinets, or woodwork. It quickly melts through the old finish without stripping the wood of natural oils or its patina.
If you let denatured alcohol sit on the shellac for a few minutes it will soften and remove the shellac.
If Seal Coat, it is a 2# cut from the can; to dilute it to a 1# cut, mix 1 part of shellac and 2/3 parts denatured alcohol. For a 1/2# cut, you would mix 1 part of Seal Coat with 2 parts dna.
You should not use methylated spirits on painted, varnished, or lacquered surfaces, certain plastics (like acrylics), inside kettles, or on skin, as it can dissolve finishes, damage materials, or cause skin irritation; always spot test first and use in well-ventilated areas due to its flammability and strong fumes.
MEK or Methyl Ethyl Ketone is stronger than Acetone, because it has a slower evaporation rate and boils at a higher temperature. These differences are why MEK can be a stronger cleaning agent than acetone.
The substance is mainly used as a paint thinner and extraction solvent. It's also a good cleaning and degreasing agent because it can dissolve a wide range of substances including acrylic paint, wood preservatives, grease, glue, lacquer, and varnish.