[tobraoin]

Hello there, I'm finishing a carving with shellac and want to find out is the methylated spirits which is tinted purple (i live in Ireland) is suitable to use, it seems to be an impossible task to get hold of the clear stuff here. Thanks

[AlArchie]

That purple methyl alcohol used to be used here for anti-freeze in auto radiators back in the late 40's and early 50's!!!! Haven't heard or seen it since. It was tinted to stop moonshiners from putting it in homebrew hooch.
Do you still have moon shiners in Ireland? Just joking!

Did you check in a paint store or hardware store for the un-tinted stuff. maybe they have it there.

If not, can you get the pre mixed shellac? Then you'd only need the spirits for cleaning your brushes and spills. I've never mixed the shellac flakes myself...always got the pre mixed 1/2 pint cans.

As a last resort, try mixing up a small quantiny and see if it looks OK. If it works, go ahead and use it on your carving.

Al

[tobraoin]

Hi Al, Yeah it's for my own brand of purple poitin (irish moonshine)! Yeah here you need a licence to be able to buy the clear stuff, hardwares and that only sell the purple kind. I have shellac flake, just wanted to try making some myself. anyway

[BobD]

I'm expressing my ignorance over here...do they sell denatured alcohol over there? Here in the US, denatured alcohol is ethanol (the same alcohol you drink) that has been treated so it is impossible to make it nonpoisonous...so you can actually use ethanol (ethyl alcohol) to dissolve flakes as well... So...if they sell "everclear" or pure grain alcohol over there, that should work as well! Bob Duncan Technical Editor

[tobraoin]

Hey bob,
yeah denatured alcohol is called methylated spirits here, except the kind that is sold to the public has purple dye put in it, ya know just in case you mistake you're bottle of toxic dentaured alcohol for something else and take a swig. Industrial meths here is sold under licence, pretty strict about it. I'll have a look about the everclear stuff, hopefully I'll find something which will be suitable, otherwise I'll have to get the stuff off the shelf.
Thanks again

[BobD]

Ah...the former science major in my puts it all together...Methylated spirits...ie. ethyl alcohol (spirits) that have been rendered toxic by the addition of methyl alchol or methylated...sorry...brain fart...

Hmm...now that the brain is working again...would strong proof alcohol (I'm thinking vodka) work as well...I also know that may father cuts his shellac with lacquer thinner AND Denatured alcohol...maybe someone with more finishing experience can weigh in. I know lacquer thinner is composed of several solvents...maybe there is enough concentration of alcohol to dissolve the shellac????

Bob

[AlArchie]

At the risk of getting a "HEY, THAT AIN'T MY MAGAZINE!" Try checking in at www.woodmagazine.com They have a forum especially for different finishes and finishing techniques. I'll bet someone there could answer your questions.

http://community.woodmagazine.com/dg...2-9eab1aed8cf1

Al

[tobraoin]

cheers al, I'll have look and see, thanks for the help

[Dundee]

Or 200 proof grain alchohol

Chris

Originally Posted by BobD

Ah...the former science major in my puts it all together...Methylated spirits...ie. ethyl alcohol (spirits) that have been rendered toxic by the addition of methyl alchol or methylated...sorry...brain fart...

Hmm...now that the brain is working again...would strong proof alcohol (I'm thinking vodka) work as well...I also know that may father cuts his shellac with lacquer thinner AND Denatured alcohol...maybe someone with more finishing experience can weigh in. I know lacquer thinner is composed of several solvents...maybe there is enough concentration of alcohol to dissolve the shellac????

Bob

[arapsang]

Hi there,

Just back from Ireland where I have been collecting some bog oak. You can get industrial methylated spirits from any reputable woodfinishing or paint store. Don't spend much more than 20 euro a gallon.



Peter Connor