My old boss in Cleveland swore by thinning shellac with denatured alcohol, not methanol.

He told me it dries slower and leaves a better finish, and after switching for a project last month, the results were way smoother. I had always just grabbed whatever solvent was closest without thinking. Does anyone have a strong preference on which alcohol they use for their shellac mixes?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucashart1mo ago

Read a woodworking forum where a few pros said the same thing about denatured alcohol, makes total sense for a slower cure.

the_tara1mo ago

Yeah, the pros are usually right about that stuff.

parkera221mo ago

Totally, @the_tara. That slower cure time they talk about is a game changer for getting a really smooth finish.