Bleached lac

NedL · May 31, 2017

From The Photographic Annual, 1908 about sizing paper for salt printing:

I'm not sure what "bleached lac" is... could it be shellac? Anyone have a clue?

removed account4 · May 31, 2017

i think it is ned
http://www.shellac.in/bleachedlac1.html
seems readily available too

NedL · May 31, 2017

Yep, and now that I'm googling the right thing, I had no idea! I remember shellac as a smelly varnish that we applied to wood. Now I see it is edible and comes from a tree in india! Learn something new every day! Even makes sense that it might be good for sizing. The site you found is pretty interesting: they claim their shellac is better because it's made from "highest quality indian seedlacs" and not seedlacs from other sources! Now I know which one to try to get!

Gerald C Koch · May 31, 2017

Shellac is secreted by the female lac beetle which sucks the sap from a certain species of tree. I ain't eating the stuff.

George Nova Scotia · May 31, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
Shellac comes from the shells of the female lac beetle which sucks the sap from a certain species of tree. I ain't eating the stuff.

I'll bet you already have. It's commonly used as a coating on some chocolates. Check the ingredients on some candy bars you might find it there! Glossette almonds and other shiny chocolate covered candies.

NedL · May 31, 2017

I am constantly amazed at what I learn in this hobby.

Gerald C Koch · May 31, 2017

NedL said:
I am constantly amazed at what I learn in this hobby.

Ditto I will look at Jordan almonds differently now.

Peter Schrager · Jun 1, 2017

Ned please keep us up to date on your use with this product...sizing etc
Thanks in advance

MattKing · Jun 1, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
Ditto I will look at Jordan almonds differently now.

With trepidation?

pdeeh · Jun 1, 2017

Ned can you please stop finding interesting things to play with.
Or at least stop telling us all.
It's hard enough for me to concentrate on one thing at a time as it is

Ian Leake · Jun 1, 2017

This sounds worth exploring. Thanks for sharing. I wonder how it compares with other materials from an archival perspective.

AgX · Jun 1, 2017

To my knowledge shellac is the only non-synthezised resin of animal origin. All others are based either on vegetable-oil or -resin.

removed account4 · Jun 1, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
Shellac is secreted by the female lac beetle which sucks the sap from a certain species of tree. I ain't eating the stuff.

there used to be a shellac factory in boston harbor near the old roxbury canal back in the 1800s. they had millions of beetles and cooked them up (?) to make shellac.
from all reports it was "the good stuff"

nmp · Jun 1, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
Shellac is secreted by the female lac beetle which sucks the sap from a certain species of tree. I ain't eating the stuff.

OK. No more honey for you!

pdeeh · Jun 1, 2017

No cochineal for Mr Koch either.
Or do I mean kochineal

Herzeleid · Jun 1, 2017

Even the bleached shellac, depending on the concentration,has a yellow tint. I am using it for varnishing glass negatives.
Ammonia, sodium hydroxide and other strong bases will dissolve it too.
Shellac was also used in construction, as an additive in making water proof cement in aqueducts.

bdial · Jun 1, 2017

It's also used in stain-hiding paints, and it's useful in wood finishing if you need a barrier layer between two incompatible finishes (which is why it works in stain-hiding paints and primers).
The shellac flakes are usually dissolved in alcohol, it doesn't "cure" with a chemical change as with many resin based finishes. It is simply what is left behind when the carrier solvent evaporates. And, as noted, it's not poisonous (once the solvent is gone), so it can be used on surfaces kids might chew, like cribs or cradles or surfaces subject to food contact.

Very handy stuff.

pdeeh · Jun 2, 2017

the recipe says "Sodium phosphate" but all I have to go on is what I can find on wikipedia where it tells me there are about a zillion forms of it.
Wonder which was most likely to have been used in 1908?

TheToadMen · Jun 2, 2017

I believe shellac is still used regularly for sizing paper for oil painting, maybe even water colour painting?
For example:
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-929828.html
and
http://www.fallcityfineart.org/workshops/materials/preparingpaper.pdf

greg zinselmeier · Jun 2, 2017

the shellac I usually get fpr woodworking is blonde shellac or super blonde, dewaxed of course. the zinger stuff is too orange in color for me!! There is shellac.net that I get my stuff from, & I have had good customer support from them,

Bleached lac

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