How to Mix Shellac Flakes
To mix shellac flakes, weigh the flakes, measure the alcohol by volume, put both in a glass or HDPE jar with a tight lid, and let the flakes dissolve for 24 to 48 hours, shaking or stirring now and then. For general brushing, use a 2-lb cut: 1 oz of flakes to 4 fl oz of alcohol. Optionally, you can strain the finished mix through a paint filter before you use it or decant it off any sediment.
The steps below work for any cut. If you are not sure which cut you need, read What Is a Cut of Shellac? first. The pound cut chart has the full table.
What you need
- Shellac flakes, weighed on a scale that reads in grams or tenths of an ounce
- Alcohol: denatured alcohol or 190-proof grain alcohol (see What Alcohol Do You Mix Shellac With?)
- A glass jar or HDPE bottle with a tight-fitting lid
- A graduated measuring cup
- A paint filter or fine mesh strainer
Step by step
- Choose your cut. A 2-lb cut for general brushing; a 1-lb cut for sealing and washcoats; a 3-lb cut when you want to build faster.
- Measure the alcohol. The cut is defined by the alcohol you start with. Measure it by volume, then take the flake weight from the table below or the cut guide.
- Weigh the flakes. For a 2-lb cut, that is 1 oz (28 g) of flakes for every 4 fl oz (118 ml) of alcohol.
- Alcohol in the jar first, then the flakes, added slowly so they don't clump in one spot.
- Cap it tight and shake. A tight lid keeps the alcohol in and the cut where you set it.
- Let it dissolve. 24 to 48 hours at room temperature, with a shake a few times a day. It's ready when you hold the jar up to a light and see no flakes.
- Strain and label. Pour through a paint filter into a clean jar. Write the grade, the cut, the alcohol, and the date on the lid.
Faster dissolving
Broken-up flakes dissolve faster than whole ones, and a warm room helps. Warm the room, not the jar: alcohol is flammable, so shellac is never heated over a flame or on a hot plate. Mix and store in glass or HDPE, not metal.
Quick measures for a 2-lb cut
| Flakes | Alcohol | Metric (g : ml) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | 4 fl oz (1/2 cup) | 28 g : 118 ml |
| 2 oz | 8 fl oz (1 cup) | 57 g : 237 ml |
| 4 oz | 16 fl oz (1 pint) | 113 g : 473 ml |
If something looks off
- Flakes still on the bottom after 48 hours: shake again and give it another day. Whole flakes and a cold shop both slow things down.
- A faint haze in a wax-in mix: that's the natural wax, and it is normal in the jar. It does not show in the finish.
- The mix has thickened: alcohol got out through a loose lid. Thin it back with alcohol and tighten the lid.
How much to mix
Mix roughly what you'll use in the next several months. Mixed shellac keeps well sealed, and an older jar is tested in a minute with a drop on glass; How Long Does Mixed Shellac Last? covers that.
FAQ
How long does it take to mix shellac flakes?
Expect 24 to 48 hours at room temperature. Broken flakes and a warm room speed it up, but it is measured in hours, not minutes.
Can I heat the alcohol to speed it up?
Warm the room, not the mix. Alcohol vapor is flammable, so shellac is never heated over a flame or on a hot plate.
What container should I use?
Glass or HDPE with a tight-fitting lid. Not metal.
Which alcohol should I use?
Denatured alcohol is the usual choice in the US. Some states, California among them, restrict the sale of traditional denatured alcohol; 190-proof grain alcohol is the alternative there. The alcohol guide goes through the options.
Does it matter whether the flake is dewaxed or wax-in?
Not for mixing; the ratio and the method are the same. It matters for what goes on top. See Dewaxed vs. Waxy Shellac.
All the guides are collected at Shellac Guides. Flakes by grade: dewaxed, wax-in, and button lac.