<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2722" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I once made my own burnt shellac by = burning it! I took old shellac 3-pound cut, and placed in in metal can. I then lit it = with a long match...be careful as alcohol is almost invisible as it burns and = the flame is hard to see. It might require lighting a couple of times as the can = heats up. Soon bubbles will form around the perimeter and the shellac burn on its = own and will gradually lose its solvent (alcohol). When reduced = somewhat (around 50%), cover the can to extinguish the flame and let cool. The = burnt shellac will become thicker as it cools. If too thin, burn again, if too = thick add a little alcohol. You will soon be able to judge how far to go in = the burning. Pour the cooled burnt shellac into an airtight = container.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Using old shellac might affect the = drying time. </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A simpler method is to buy shellac = flakes and dissolve in a little alcohol until it is the right consistency. This way = it dries very fast.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I use burnt shellac to seal metal = nipples into wood for players, sealing pouch wells and channels, gluing felt and leather = to metal, such as buckskin to metal lever ends or felt to metal guides, = etc.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Berley</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>