Denatured Alcohols – Update!

 H Behlen Finishing Materials, Shellac Flakes, Wood Finishing Tricks  No Responses »
Apr 232012
 

“Not all Denatured Alcohols are equal”

USE a GOOD Shellac Solvent
for making your own shellac finish.
A ‘denaturant’ is added to Ethanol Alcohol (a drinkable spirit) to make it unfit for consumption. The original denaturant was Methanol Alcohol. The term ‘methylated spirit’ is still sometimes used referring to Denatured Alcohol.

UPDATE as of 4/23/12  • • • WARNING!
ONLY the Sunnyside with “Contains 4% Methanol” in the first line of the can back label is 190 Proof Denatured Ethanol Alcohol –
the company has changed their formula and the new version is over 50 % methanol. The can label and product # are the same (you have to check the text on the back label). The 190 proof  may still be available at some stores.
The New formula is not recommended due to the % of methanol.
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Unfortunately NOT all Denatured Alcohols are equal and there is no purity standard for ethanol content to be labeled  “Denatured Alcohol”. High test, 190 proof (5% denaturents), Denatured Alcohol is preferred as a Shellac flake solvent.

It is next to impossible to find a 190 proof alcohol at the ‘big box’ home improvement or hardware stores. Many brands have as little as 50-60% Ethanol – and the balance cheaper alcohols and denaturing solvents.
Recently I went in search of high test Denatured. Out of ten paint, hardware and home improvement stores – only the local Sherwin Williams paint store had 190 Proof. The Material Safety Data Sheet will list the ingredient percentages of the product (most cans do not).

A 190 Proof Denatured Alcohol is operator and earth, ‘Green’, friendly.
Startex,  Crown® Denatured Alcohol NEXT™ is biodegradable and made from 95% natural and renewable resources (available in the eastern half of the US), and “Klean-Strip Green” are retail brands of 190 Proof Denatured Alcohols.
If you find one of these, or another 190 proof Denatured Alcohol, buy locally and save on shipping.

We ship Alcohol in quarts to avoid costly flammable shipping charges.

Available from Shellac.net –
•• Select 190 proof Denatured Alcohol Shellac Flake Solvent
- excellent for padding and french polishing.
or
•• ‘Behkol Alcohol’ (Denatured Alcohol) is formulated by BEHLEN specifically to dissolve shellac flakes and dilute or ‘cut’ liquid Shellacs.
Behkol will make a shellac that has a little more open and working time.

Shop Note: By using a known Denatured Alcohol proof or purity and settling on a brand you will have more predictable results by elminating one finishing variable. We adjust for weather and heat conditions by adding SHELLAC Retarder (not lacquer retarder).
When the shellac is drying too fast due to heat, low humidity, or excessive airflow, add just enough retarder to enable easy application.
When spraying shellac, retarder will help eliminate over-spray and orange-peel.
Avoid over-use of the retarder.  Keep in mind that use of the retarder will require longer drying times between coats of shellac.

To: ‘Pound Cut’ Mixing Ratio for dissolving Shellac Flake in Alcohol

More on: Denatured Alcohol – Shellac Solvents

Behlen Finishing Products – Label Text

 H Behlen Finishing Materials, Product Data Sheets, Wood Finishing Tricks  No Responses »
Mar 032012
 

H. BEHLEN Finishing
Finishing Products Label Text

Label information from the product packages in a
Type Size You Can Read

If you wear reading glasses (I do) the type face on some small labels
is so tiny a magnifying glass becomes necessary.
Even worse, sometimes a stain drip or sticky fingerprint obscures
the application information, drying times, or other important label text
& some information is too extensive to fit on the product label.

These frustrations gave birth to our  BEHLEN Label Text & Data Pages

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Antiquax Furniture Wax

 Product Data Sheets  Comments Off
Jan 062012
 

Wax Care & Protection for wood finishes

BROWN Wax Now available in a 250ml Tin
information  &  pricing

One of our favored waxes for wood furniture is a classic
Beeswax and Carnauba formula. Antiquax from England,
a traditional ‘Paste Wax Polish’, is an excellent example.

Early furniture finishes, applied by hand or pad, were expensive to complete.
Paste wax was found the best means to maintain finish integrity and provide long-term protection.

The English know that the best protection for wood finishes is a maintained layer of “wax polish” that will absorb abrasions, repel dust and protect against humidity.
A good Furniture wax (applied sparingly) is easy to apply and buffs to a warm glow with ease.

Antiquax Fine Furniture Wax Polish was originally formulated in the early 1900’s, by master woodworker Mr. Elliott of London for protection of his furniture finishes. In 1922 he approached Partridge Fine Arts, an antiques gallery in New Bond Street, London and asked them to sell it for him. The Original Antiquax Paste Wax Polish formula is manufactured today in Manchester, England. Antiquax is used by, museums, fine furniture collectors, estates, and furniture crafters around the globe.

Antiquax Wax should NOT be used on floors.
The formulation, ideal for furniture finish protection,
is too slippery to be safe as a floor wax. For floors, use a Non-Slip Floor Wax.

to: More Antiquax Wax information , & pricing

Waxing Furniture

 Product Data Sheets  Comments Off
Jan 012012
 

Waxing Furniture & Fine Wood Finishes

Apply Sparingly – a little wax goes a long way!

For all wax polishing, wait until all the solvent evaporates prior to buffing.
Paste Waxes differ in composition; some blends require longer times for the solvent, that makes for the ease of wax application, to evaporate.

It is important to apply all paste waxes sparingly, in a THIN EVEN coat.
This will assure even drying and yield an even sheen result when buffing
(a thicker area of wax will dry slower, and those areas will not buff
to as high a sheen).

If you buff too soon, the buffing is just pushing soft (uncured) wax around.
I usually wait on Goddard’s and other similar furniture makers waxes
for an hour & up to 4 hours before buffing.
Use a Soft 100% cotton cloth (free of any seams or stitching) for buffing.
Old worn out 100% cotton t-shirts, linens, diapers and well used and laundered terry cloth will work well.
The softer the buffing cloth, the higher the resulting sheen.

On older pieces of furniture, and other wood surfaces, it is important to clean the item first of any dirt, oils or accumulated grime.
Residual oils, grime and some aerosol care products left on the surface can prevent the wax from drying properly and can lead to a splotchy uneven result.
Maintain and protect the waxed surface with another thin coat of wax as needed.
A good wax layer is the best protection from moisture, dirt and abrasion.
Avoid the use of all maintenance oils & silicone containing aerosols.

To: Paste Wax Polishes & care

Goddard’s Paste Wax

 Product Data Sheets  Comments Off
Dec 222011
 

Goddard’s Cabinet Maker’s Paste Wax

for fine furniture

Goddard's Cabinetmaker's Paste WaxThe Original Formula – Manufactured in the UK

J. Goddard introduced his cabinetmaker’s wax in 1847
to protect Thomas Chippendale’s furniture.
Goddard’s Fine Cabinet Maker’s Wax enhances and protects fine furniture.
An exceptional wax for furniture care and maintenance.

Contains NO Silicone & will not yellow over time.
” I think Goddard’s paste wax is the best bees/carnauba (blend)
for all general furniture waxing purposes.”

We are pleased to offer the original formula Goddard’s Cabinet Maker’s Wax.
The current production has a slight,  pleasant, Lemon Verbena scent.
This rebirth is  proof that: The more things change the more they remain the same. —
or, a good testament to, If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
For the many furniture stores, antique dealers and furniture crafters
that remember the old classic J. Goddard’s paste wax …. This Is It

More Info:Goddard’s Cabinet Maker’s Wax
•••••

Pore-O-Pac – Paste Wood Filler

 H Behlen Finishing Materials, Product Data Sheets, Wood Finishing Tricks  No Responses »
Dec 192011
 

H BEHLENPore-O-Pac  – Paste Wood Filler

To achieve a perfectly smooth Gloss finish (Piano Finish), filling the pores  in open grained woods is required. One customer described this finish as looking like a Mirror, or as smooth as a freshly frozen skating rink.

While other procedures and methods have been practiced, a Paste Wood Filler specifically designed for the process will give the most predictable result.  Pore-O-Pac will efficiently fill pores to provide a SMOOTH, FLAT ground on which to build a sealer coat and several gloss finish coats required for a classic filled, mirror smooth, Piano Finish.

See the can label instructions & application notes.
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