Fw: shellac sealer on plate yes yes yesYES

[bases-loaded@juno.com]

David -

It sounds to me like you were using some shellac that was past its shelf
life.  I have never heard of it "letting go" of any surface that was
reasonably clean, nor have I EVER heard of lacquer having any
compatibility problems with shellac whatsoever.  However, when shellac
gets old it will never set up, remain kind of rubbery, and crinkle
easily, and I could see it possibly shedding a top coat placed on it.

Finishers have been putting lacquer on shellac for many decades.  I did
on a regular basis back in my nitrocellulose days with never a hint of a
problem.  Also, I have been putting it under lacquer on plates, both in
the clear form and with powder suspended in it, for over 20 years and
never had the experience you did.  I continue to service many of these
instruments and would know if there was a delamination.

I will ask the refinisher's forum I subscribe to if they may be able to
shed some light on your problem. 

Mark Potter
bases-loaded@juno.com

On Sat, 07 Jul 2001 21:20:05 -0000 "David Stanwood"
<dstanwood@hotmail.com> writes:
> 
> WARNING!
> 
> Years ago I used shellac as a sealer for plates and after a few 
> years the 
> finish started to crackle and in some cases peel off in sheets.  I 
> found the 
> solution in a product call Silicone Stop Sealer which was made by 
> Mohawk.  I 
> have two gallons left... but I called the factory and they put me 
> through to 
> a chemist who told me that it is half shellac and half lacquer.
> 
> The way I use it is to spray on as an undercoat then when it is 
> quite dry I 
> spray Utilac gold in a spray can... this alas is discontinued as 
> well.  Then 
> I mix about 1/3 orange shellac with the silicone stop seal and 
> overspray the 
> gold starting with a very thin coat then spraying until the right 
> golden hue 
> is had...
> 
> I love the look, warmth, and feel, especially in tungsten light....
> 
> I treat the Steinway action rails the same way and it looks almost 
> like 
> polished brass.....but without the eventual tarnish.
> 
> Shellac reacts with metal and I had some bad experience mixing 
> shellac with 
> the powder but I think some experimentation with lacquer/shellac is 
> worth 
> while...
> 
> David Stanwood
> 
> >From: "Erwinpiano" <Erwinpiano@email.msn.com>
> >Reply-To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
> >Subject: Fw: shellac sealer on plate yes yes yesYES
> >Date: Wed, 4 Jul 2001 07:20:08 -0700
> >
> >Very interesting post Mark Potter.  Once again it may have taken me 
> another 
> >decade to think of that all by myself but I catch on quick after a 
> long 
> >time!
> >      Thanks
> >
> >    DAle Erwin
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: bases-loaded@juno.com
> >To: pianotech@ptg.org
> >Sent: Wednesday, July 04, 2001 4:10 AM
> >Subject: Re: shellac sealer on plate yes yes yesYES
> >
> >
> >On Tue, 03 Jul 2001 21:43:09 -0700 "Diane Hofstetter" 
> ><dianepianotuner@hotmail.com> writes:
> >   Dale,
> >
> >   Me too,  I offer up my gratitude to all who suggested shellac!
> >   After two coats of spray shellac, sanding in between all coats, 
> and a 
> >coat of gold enamel, the fish-eyes are gone and tomorrow I can put 
> the top 
> >clear coat on.  Whew!
> >
> >   Diane
> >
> >
> >   Hi Diane -
> >
> >   I'm glad it worked out for you so well!  Yet another alternative 
> for you 
> >would be to mix bronze powder right in with the shellac and use 
> that as 
> >your finish, or at least as a primer/sealer coat that already has a 
> bronze 
> >color.  I have done it many times with good results every time.  
> Use the 
> >palest color of shellac you can find, though, as a dark shellac 
> will yield 
> >a darker gold color when mixed with the powder.
> >
> >   Shellac is a finisher's right hand man.
> >
> >   Mark Potter
> >   bases-loaded@juno.com
> >
> >
> 
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