Source for Shellac - UK (or EU/US)

[Ian Grant]

I want to make up my own French Polish and so am looking for a reasonably priced source of Shellac.

Any suggestions would be useful. I need to control the colour so would rather not buy an assortment of French polishes.

Ian

 

[anon12345]

I just found this and thought I'd pass it along . . .

http://www.shellacshack.com/purchase-shellac-flakes-1.html

I love to french polish, but can only practice the parts of the art that I have had time to learn. I've accomplished and entire bedroom suite w/ tallboy dresser, vanity, and more recently a very large 1920's Italian credenza. The smallest job I've had was the mahogany lens board I've just made for that old Sands and Hunter Tailboard. I've only used Bulls-eye pre-mixed shellac. The product does work quite well.

 

[ndrs]

I have too much. I can send you up to 200 g for max €4 shipping cost from Germany. I bought it two years ago from a German internet shop specialised on selling restoration materials. Can't remember the address, though.

Andres

 

[Ian Grant]

Thanks Dann the US prices are much lower than the UK, I'll bear that one in mind. It's for re-finishing some Thornton Pickard shutter cases.

Andres, can I take you up on the offer of 200g please, I can send you some money via Paypal if you use it.

Thanks
Ian

 

[Robert Hall]

What kills me is that in India, where it comes from, one can buy it for less than a dollar a pound.

It's from the shell of the lac bug, lac meaning 100,000 in Hindi, and they call it that because the trees are covered in the bugs.

Kind of cool, eh?

 

[fotch]

I just found this and thought I'd pass it along . . .

http://www.shellacshack.com/purchase-shellac-flakes-1.html

I love to french polish, but can only practice the parts of the art that I have had time to learn. I've accomplished and entire bedroom suite w/ tallboy dresser, vanity, and more recently a very large 1920's Italian credenza. The smallest job I've had was the mahogany lens board I've just made for that old Sands and Hunter Tailboard. I've only used Bulls-eye pre-mixed shellac. The product does work quite well.

The Shellac Shack is a very good source that I have used. The problem with Bulls-Eye is it has a shelf life and you can buy it new and it may already be out of date. Buy it in bulk, mix only what you need, that is what the pros use.

 

[bdial]

Here's another source, a bit higher than Shellac Shack though, http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2080842/Brooklyn-Tool-and-Craft-Shellac-Flakes.aspx
It happens that this month's issue of Fine Woodworking has an article on how it's made; http://www.finewoodworking.com/Materials/MaterialsPDF.aspx?id=33678
(warning, trial or paid online subscription required to see the full text).

 

[chrisf]

I used to use Kremer Pigments in New York, they were a wholesale outfit. A kilo used to cost about 22 dollars but they are now a retail outlet and the price doubled per kilo.

 

[2F/2F]

Wherever you find it, I highly recommend using flakes as opposed to pre mix, for reasons mentioned by Fotch.

I patched a repair on a cello once by French polishing. It sho ain't fun, but it sho is purdy!