December 2, 2023 | 18 min read | By: Parkerville
If you’re a woodworker, you’re probably familiar with shellac. I remember first encountering shellac back when I was a Boy Scout and whenever I catch the unique smell of shellac, it transports me back to Boy Scout Camp. In this edition of our “How it’s Made” series, we’ll give you an overview of this very interesting process.
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug and deposited on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. The deposits are harvested, processed, and sold. As the resin is processed, there are steps along the way the shellac is set aside to make the different types of shellac.
Shellac has been used for centuries as a means to finish furniture and wooden musical instruments like violins or cellos. Today, pre-mixed shellac can be purchased in a variety of retail outlets, and dry shellac products, such as buttons or flakes, can be found in woodworking stores and, of course, online.
This video, courtesy of Shellac Finishes, provides an excellent overview of what it takes to produce shellac. As you’ll see in the video, the process is quite labor-intensive and has not changed much over the centuries.
Shellac may be used in pharmaceutical applications, as a fruit coating, in cosmetics, and printer’s ink, among many other uses.
Shellac is an extremely versatile finish. It can be used simply as a sanding sealer or with the French Polishing technique to create a beautiful and durable finish. There are many resources available on the internet that can help you learn more about the use of shellac. Did you know that by using shellac flakes and alcohol, you can easily create a mix of finish that is specific to your needs and only in the amount needed? We encourage you to take time to learn more about shellac and its uses. You won’t be disappointed.
We hope you appreciate these “How it’s Made” articles. We welcome any suggestions you may have for future topics. We hope to see you in the shop!
Do you need help with a woodworking or wood-related project and don’t know where to turn? We’re here to help. Whether you’re looking for consultation and advice, want help with design options or you’re simply looking for the right selection of wood for your project, we’re more than happy to assist you. Need help when it comes to milling or other services? We can assist you with that as well.
Parkerville Wood Products
580 Parker Street
Manchester, CT 06042
GPS Address
22 Mitchell Drive
Manchester, CT 06042
When planning a trip to our facility, please note that you must have proper footwear to enter the shop and lumber mill area. Safety regulations require that open toe shoes or sandals are not to be worn on the shop floor. Thank you for your cooperation.
Parkerville Wood Products
580 Parker Street
Manchester, CT, 06042
GPS Address
22 Mitchell Rd
Manchester, CT, 06042
When planning a trip to our facility, please note that you must have proper footwear to enter the shop and lumber mill area. Safety regulations require that open toe shoes or sandals are not to be worn on the shop floor. Thank you for your cooperation.
In celebration of President’s Day, our selection of 4/4 Cherry is on sale! Regular 4/4 Cherry is discounted to $3.99 bf with 8+” wide at $4.49.
Sale runs until February 24th!
** We’re open until 7 PM on Thursdays **
