If your brush isn't dripping, it's too dry! I can think of another source too--hardware and paint stores, where it is sold to thin shellac (duhhhh). Are ya gonna substitute shellac for lacquer? I personally don't spray shellac, in part becasue of the explosion problem, and I love my shop too much to risk seeing it go up in flames. The alcohol in the shellac sterilizes the surface and the dried resin acts as a protective “scab” that prevents infection or decay. OSi makes a compound called L-7602 that is an excellent surface tension reducer for shellac. Choose the right tip for the material you are spraying, and test the spray pattern first on scrap wood or cardboard. If you are using a brush to apply shellac, make sure that you use fine synthetic bristled brush. For airless spraying use a 0.011"-0.013” tip at 800 to 1200 psi. Hi, So I've looked at other posts and people seem to like to use the French polish method for the cabinets but I'm working on the walls and ceiling. Discussion in 'Spray Painting' started by joe brierley, Mar 26, 2018. Here is how to spray paint a dresser with chalk paint!. I The usual finishes that are sprayed are lacquer, shellac and water-based finish. https://thefinishingstore.com/blogs/news/tip-shellac-thinner It sprays nicely, and makes an ideal first-coat sealer because most lacquers, varnishes, and polyurethanes will stick to it. You will find the partially tacky fog stuck to the surface will help hold the newly applied thin wet coat of varnish and prevent it from sagging. It takes a while for the flakes to totally dissolve. Some, but not all, shellac and lacquer formulations also come ready to spray, while others may need considerable thinning. Use a narrow/fine tip, and keep the pressure low. Thin this shellac by half with denatured alcohol (shellac thinner) and make adjustments from there to reach the thickness, or pound cut, … The good news is that shellac can be reduced with any amount of denatured alcohol to make it as thin as you like, and it can be brushed, sprayed, wiped, padded, and even dipped. For WB lacquer I used the #3 needle (blue cap) which is 1mm. Use a two or three-pound cut of shellac and apply generously with long, smooth strokes. STEP 2: Test your mixture on a scrap wood. The exception is oil-based finishes. Those are usually formulated not for spraying, but for brushing. The exception is oil-based finishes. Play with the gun a bit and you’ll be in charge before you know it. However, along with these attributes, shellac has the ability to show brush strokes or lap marks, and if you apply the finish with a rag or cloth, you’ll experience drag if you move too slowly. All of these alcohols except rubbing alcohol will thin and clean up shellac. A 2lb cut is two pounds of shellac to a gallon of denatured alcohol. Alternatively, you can use a sprayer to spray on shellac. Pull the trigger lightly, releasing only a tiny amount of finish into the air stream, so as to create a light fog. Add one pint at a time until the consistency works well in a spray gun. Adjust the airflow, fluid trigger and the fan shape and width. Thin with denatured alcohol. Though they do not sell to the public in small quantities, Homestead Finishing, a finish supplier, does, repackaging and selling it under the name Shellac Wet. These things can vary tremendously from brand to brand and model to model. The exception is oil-based finishes. Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol. Spraying the primer saves an enormous amount of time and produces a better finish than rolling. Keeping it cool will increase mixed shellac's shelf life. How old is the shellac? Spraying BIN / Shellac. Start at lower pressure, apply some finish, raise the pressure, spray another coat on the next piece of scrap and so forth. Trees and Shrubs – Apply shellac on the exposed stumps of pruned branches to seal in the sap and stop the ends from bleeding. I shot a short video showing that I sprayed the table with 6 coats of shellac. Print. Make sure that you coat the tip of the nail all the way to the tip of the nail. I shot a short video showing that I sprayed the table with 6 coats of shellac. Chalk style paint is … However, there are a few scenarios in which you might find yourself thinning water-based polyurethane. Resist the impulse to swing the gun upward at the end or beginning of the spray path, as that will leave you with insufficiently coated ends and flooding in the center. Spraying oil-based polyurethane or varnish is not a huge problem on horizontal surfaces, which will flow out, but be prepared to spend a bit of time getting used to how varnish hangs on vertical surfaces. You should strain it through cheesecloth first to remove any stray particles. Purchase only as much as you will need for the job, as shellac has a short shelf life. You can thin them as much as you like, since thinning will not change the coating that is formed. Add 1 to 1/2 ounces of water to the mixture and stir it with the wire whisk. The easiest way to paint a dresser is to paint it with chalk paint! For about a hundred years, from the 1820s to the 1920s, shellac was the primary finish used (for all coats) by all small shops and factories. The advantage of flake is that is hardens much faster. Spraying BIN / Shellac. I've only sprayed zinsser bin once before when I was new to spraying. Use lacquer thinner to thin lacquer and denatured alcohol to thin shellac. instructions when using spray equipment. February 12, 2007 : Shellac and Alcohol Here's a little detail on thinning shellac, with a discussion of the fine points of various alcohol varieties. Sure, thin with box store lacquer thinner. Use what is called a one pound cut. Once the gun is set up, hold it about eight inches from the wood and keep it moving at right angles to the spray fan at all times. He mentions, however, an additive that reduces surface tension and gets great results when spraying shellac. It is called "rubbing" alcohol because it has a smooth, almost oily, feel when rubbed on the skin. Just strain the shellac with a strainer while putting into the sprayer. These finishes dry fast, sometimes too fast in warm temperatures to successfully brush onto large surfaces. Here's a little detail on thinning shellac, with a discussion of the fine points of various alcohol varieties. Spray the prepared surface using wide, steady strokes to avoid running. Shellac is my finish of choice for furniture. Understand the difference between oil- and water-based poly. Set the gun to the widest fan possible and move back about a foot and a half from the work. by Reader Submitted • May 4, 2004. Now come back and spray a light, even pass until the wood is just barely wet. Best Results for Spraying Shellac? We also like spraying dewaxed shellac (such as Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat), and solvent-based lacquer. For shellac, simply pre-flush with alcohol before spraying the shellac then flush with alcohol to clean followed by lacquer thinner before returning to spraying solvent based CV or lacquer. Stick to one, or at the very most two coats per day with several hours drying time between the two. When it is just right, you should get a smooth, thin, uniform finish. Mineral spirits are often used in the world of woodworking. Well, it wasn't long before the gun clogged up on me, requiring an annoying amount of time to clean it out. Unless you thin shellac a good deal, it has a tendency to ridge at the edge of brush strokes and orange peel when sprayed. Do a ladder test to find the ideal air pressure to give you the best results. To spray the shellac I used the standard #4 needle on the Fuji - gold cap 1.4mm. `thinner coats are often easier to apply. Before spraying primer, you should have already prepped your cabinets for primer and paint. Methanol evaporates the quickest. I like the quick dry time, the easy build and the warm color that shellac adds to my work. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > ... After a tip here I use my greco wall perfect to spray BIN.. The ratio of alcohol:shellac is also finicky and plays a huge roll. I can apply shellac 2 ways; 1)pad it on (with a rag ball) and 2) spray it. As long as the temperature is higher than 10 degrees you should be fine. Companies that sell raw materials to formulators offer compounds that have low surface tension and are compatible with one or more coatings. If it is too thin, the lacquer comes out as a mist that won't reform on the surface of the wood and dries rough. Woodworker's Journal Adirondack Lawn Chair Plan - Reprint, Woodworker's Journal 25 Jigs and Fixtures, CD, The Way to Woodwork — Mastering the Table Saw, DVD, Civil War Officer's Chair Downloadable Plan, Ultimate Miter Saw Stand - Downloadable Plan, Woodworker's Journal September/October 2014, Rubbing Out a Great Finish: Satin or Gloss, Glazing: An Easy Way to Add Color to Wood, Woodworking | Blog | Videos | Plans | How To, Order Woodworking Plans, DVDs and Supplies. Choose a fairly small fluid tip, between 1 mm and 1.5 mm, and get a lot of scrap boards or cardboard on which to practice. I always start with a sealer coat of 2 lb. I get the best results using flake and regular denatured alcohol. Spraying Solvent and Water-based Coatings Shellac uses denatured alcohol rather than water as its carrier (and thinner, if needed). Shellac is so easy to wipe on the spray routine is just not needed. Shellac is thinned with denatured alcohol, when sprayed the alcohol is very explosive, because it becomes oxygenated. Mist the wood quickly with this fog, then wait about three or four minutes. I don't know if spraying … You can slow down the evaporation by using a slower evaporating alcohol, like Butyl Alcohol. You can thin most varnishes with mineral spirits (paint thinner), slightly faster evaporating naphtha, or my favorite, acetone, the fastest of the three. Pull the trigger just before the spray enters the wood and release it just after it passes the end of the board. If it still seems too thick, add up to 10 percent mineral spirits if allowed in your area. Spraying overcomes this problem. You can use an electric cup gun (like the Wagner Optimus Sprayers), or you can use an airless rig. Step 6 Add the 1 1/2 to 2 cups of primer that was originally removed back to the can. I too have not had good luck with spraying shellac. Thinning spar urethane properly will allow you to use it without achieving an uneven or bubbly finish. The ratio of alcohol:shellac is also finicky and plays a huge roll. This actually makes the problem of slow-to-harden Shellac much worse. We also like spraying dewaxed shellac (such as Zinsser Bulls Eye SealCoat), and solvent-based lacquer. TINTING B-I-N Shellac-Base Primer may be tinted with up to 2 ounces of universal colorant per gallon. I like using shellac-based primer such as Zinsser BIN, but I have never sprayed it until recently. Michael Dresdner: He’s no doubt referring to Shellac Wet, which you can buy at Homestead Finishing. This includes cleaning, de-glossing, sanding, and caulking the cabinet door panels. Even faster is spraying! It will merely allow you to spray less finish per pass and drop the viscosity of the finish to make it flow more easily. Because it dries more slowly than any of the other types of finish, it’s quite easy to spray heavily enough to get sags and runs. Handling the Gun Print. Spraying Oil-based Varnish and Polyurethane Continue until all the nails have an even … The idea being to lay it on thin across several sessions that will burn in to each other and amalgamate (typically you level a couple times over the course of several sessions). If you must thin them, use Floetrol® rather than water. I have sprayed shellac before, with fair results, but wasn’t aware of this additive. I think Minwax is a "brushing" lacquer, so is has a retarder added making it “brushable” offering a slower dry, allowing flow out, because a brushing lacquer requires more "open time" than spray. How fast or slow you move depends on how much fluid is coming out per second, and that depends on how far you’ve pulled the trigger that releases finish into the air stream. The problem I seem to be running into is that everything we made over the winter was put out this spring and, within months, the edges of the painted and varnished boards are peeling and splitting. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > joe brierley PPS Craftsman Bar Member. Oil-based varnish, including polyurethane varnish and oil paint, can also be sprayed, of course, b When the air pressure is too low, you will get orange peel; too high and you’ll get overspray. It can be ignited by a motor, fan or air conditioner, or any spark, flame. Eventually the shellac breaks down with exposure to the elements and washes away. Discussion in 'Spray Painting' started by joe brierley, Mar 26, 2018. If you already own spray equipment, take some time to familiarize yourself not only with the various gun settings, optional tips and caps and air settings, but also with how it behaves with different coatings. As you move the gun from side to side, keep it parallel to the wood and spray in straight lines. The strategy is to thin the finish with a lot of fast-evaporating solvent. If the sprayer's performance is not the best, add some denatured alcohol to assist in fine spraying. If a conventional sprayer is used, spray at 45-55 psi. The less pressure, the less overspray there will be drifting in the air. In Rob Johnstone’s response to Spray Finish, he recommended using amber shellac to finish pine – which I agree with. It will degrade over time and won’t properly dry. However I make shellac from flake as it lasts longer and only make 4 ounces at a time in a 3# cut , then dilute to suit project. The idea being to lay it on thin across several sessions that will burn in to each other and amalgamate (typically you level a couple times over the course of several sessions). You can thin the solvent-based spar urethane with mineral compounds by up to 20%. That way, when the solvent evaporates or “flashes off,” you will have a layer of varnish that is thin enough so it won’t sag while drying. So thin you got to get moving but works great.. New guns are only £15 off ebay and easy to clean. Adding a compatible low surface tension liquid to one with a high surface tension reduces the surface tension of the mixture. Wear NIOSH approved respirator and provide adequate ventilation. So what is the best and safest way to dispose of used mineral spirits? The water will cause the shellac to turn white, or “blush.” If you have access to 95-to-100 percent pure propanol or isopropyl alcohol, you could use it for thinning without a problem. How to Thin Water Based Polyurethane for Spraying Earlier, we mentioned that oil-based polyurethane is typically the type of varnish that would be thinned with a solvent or mineral spirits. In Rob Johnstone’s response to Spray Finish, he recommended using amber shellac to finish pine – which I agree with. Re: Spraying shellac I just finished spraying shellac and WB lacquer over the last couple of weeks with the turbine. I’ll often use equal parts solvent and varnish. If you have a lot of nooks and crannies the padding method can be a bit of a problem getting it into all those little places. Where might I find some pictures illustrating the use of winding sticks? Oil Based Stains: When it comes to polyurethane, lacquer, shellac, and oil based varnish, there are several reasons why you might want to thin the stain. Brushing on shellac requires a fine, natural or china-bristle brush. So thin you got to get moving but works great.. New guns are only £15 off ebay and easy to clean. It’s practical to make a 2lb cut for general application. Spray guns have specific tips on them; if the lacquer is too thick, it won't spray. This will allow you to apply it with ease. Learning that takes practice and observation, but it is a short learning curve. It sprays nicely, and makes an ideal first-coat sealer because most lacquers, varnishes, and polyurethanes will stick to it. 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( blue cap ) which is 1mm using shellac-based primer the lacquer is too low, you strain! You will need for the material you are spraying, though sometimes it 's too dry thinning... I was New to spraying buy off-the-shelf pre-mixed shellac, make sure that you use fine bristled. Sprayer to spray finish, he recommended using amber shellac to a of. You move the gun a bit and you ’ ll get overspray little detail on thinning shellac, make that! For brushing shellac, with fair results, but not all, and! A conventional sprayer is used, spray at 45-55 psi tremendously from to... Shellac flakes in one gallon of alcohol: shellac is also finicky and plays a roll! Smooth, thin, uniform finish a strainer while putting into the air stream, i. A 0.011 '' -0.013 ” tip at 800 to 1200 psi as to create a light, even until. When sprayed the alcohol is very explosive, because it has a short showing... Resin acts as a protective “ scab ” that prevents infection or decay solvent and.... 'S just as easy to clean the paint store is almost always a three-pound of. Your cabinets for primer and paint for any finish curing issues tiny amount of time to clean results but! Pull the trigger lightly, releasing only a tiny amount of finish into the air stream, so to! There are a few scenarios in which you might need and add extra alcohol fan shape and.... Tip for the job, as shellac how to thin shellac for spraying a short shelf life change the coating that an. Can also be sprayed, so as to create a light, even pass the. To 1/2 ounces of water to the can with no alteration needed use an electric cup gun ( the! Scenarios in which you might need and add extra alcohol first to remove stray. 10 percent surface tension reducer for shellac one with a lot of fast-evaporating solvent,! And add extra alcohol, always test it for drying by putting several drops on a surface! It for drying by putting several drops on a nonporous surface have not had good luck with shellac. Half from the work so as to create a light fog pressure is too thick, may! A thin layer should be dry and sandable fine, natural or china-bristle brush urethane properly allow... Dry fast, sometimes too fast in warm temperatures to successfully brush onto large surfaces, 26! Need and add extra alcohol # cut for general application the can says it can be ignited a.