Acoustic Guitar Construction

Shellac flakes over ready-to use in a can shellac seems to be the preferred choice of luthiers, but why is that?

Cost?
Control of/elimination of additives?
Freshness? (mixing only what you need when you need it?)
Other factors?

For me the shelf life of flaked is longer than prepared shellac. Also, for safety reasons I use Everclear to mix the shellac,so I do not have to worry about the toxic alcohols and additives in a prepared mixture. I have a wide choice of wax free colors to choose from. It is very easy to make.

Yup, flakes and Everclear for french polishing. Not breathing the bad stuff.

I'm a fan of shellac flakes and everclear as well. Very easy to mix up, and you knows its fresh.

Here in Washington they don't sell the high proof stuff, so I have to pick it up when I'm in Portland. Last time I was at the liquor store they went in back to grab me a bottle, came back out and said - "You don't look like the kind of guy who would drink this stuff" - I took that as a compliment.

LOL. People DRINK that stuff?? Yikes.

What's 'everclear'?

peter havriluk wrote:What's 'everclear'?

It is 95 proof drinkable alcohol. Very close to as pure ethanol as nature allows once exposed to air. Given the shellac is edible, I am finishing with a food grade finish.