Would you try to salvage 9 year old SealCoat?

Re: Would you try to salvage 9 year old SealCoat?

Dave Bair

Put a few drops on a non absorbent material and see if it dries fully. If gummy, toss it; if not, it's still good.

argee, nothing beats testing

No I would not use it.

Dick Coers

I put way too much effort in my work to chance using old finish on it. I really don't want to make more work for myself by having to strip it, or redo the finish if it fails latter. Finish like this is cheap.

Ditto +

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

Old shellac used under waterborne top coats has a propensity to cold check (shrink and open up veins and depressed lines) that will require refinishing of the piece.

If the test dries and then "powders" well, use it for whatever you need EXCEPT under a waterborne finish.

You may be able to help it a little by running it through a coffee filter.

OK, did the test.  It's outa here.

Tim Greif - West of Chicago

Did the test suggested. Put some on a metal surface. Did not sand well, no dust or powder. Felt gummy with the fingernail test. Laid a large piece of fabric LOML was tossing out on the gravel. Poured the remainder onto the fabric to soak up the shellac and let the alcohol evaporate and dry.

Thanks for the advice. I know SealCoat is cheap (but so am I).

I Tried It

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

Had a can go "bad" (gummy) on me 4-5 months after I bought it. I mix from flakes now.

Yeah but how do you get dewaxed from flakes?

Tim Greif - West of Chicago

SealCoat is dewaxed. Good for beneath oil base and waterbase polyurethane. Zinsser says normal shellac should not be used under polyurethane (any type) If you make your own from flakes, how do you turn it into dewaxed shellac fur use under poly?

You Buy

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

dewaxed flakes!

Homestead Finishing: http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com/

Or

Shellac Shack: http://www.shellacshack.com/

You can get dewaxed in an assortment of tones from Ultra Pale to Dark Garnet. I only buy Ultra Pale or Super Blond because they have better shelf life and I can easily kick them with TransTint dyes.

For maximum clarity, I run freshly mixed through a coffee filter in a funnel. The solution comes out crystal clear.