Q&A for How to Remove Shellac

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Can I sand over shellac on wood that I want to stain and then shellac again?

Mark Champion

Community Answer

Yes, look at French polishing for how to apply. It is not as difficult as it may seem. Clean cloths and a ball of cotton wool are the main requirements.

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Question

I have a small side table on which my grandmother hand-painted a Pennsylvania Dutch design in the 1950's. It appears she "sealed" it with shellac but the shellac has yellowed over the years and worn off in some areas. How can I remove the shellac without disturbing the hand-painted design?

Community Answer

I don't have experience with this, but if it was mine, I might try sanding lightly, to get the shellac off, and then put several coats of polyurethane on to improve the looks.

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Question

How do I remove shellac easily from carved furniture?

Community Answer

Wire wool and methylated (denatured) spirit. It takes time, and you will need gloves if heavily carved. A toothbrush will work, but protect your eyes. Best done outside.

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Question

I spilled a can of shellac on my driveway; will denatured alcohol work to remove it? I tried gas and turpentine, but neither worked.

Community Answer

Try using swimming pool cleaning acid. Be careful while using it, because it is harmful towards skin and eyes.

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Question

Do I have to remove the shellac from my guitar before I spray it with a different shellac?

Community Answer

It depends: Case I, your guitar is a cheap acoustic guitar and remove coats on the soundboard completely, this means to remove your painted Rosetta around the sound hole and etc. Case II, you want to make it darker colour and your guitar has no problem with the current shellac coating, you don't have to remove completely. To remove shellac from your guitar completely is a very hard work and acetone-like solvent damages the shellac, stain and soundboard, unless you know exactly when and how to stop by alkaline solvent to neutralize it. Sanding with water and hand soap is the best. It takes a few weeks to get the beautiful surface of the wood. You can do a little wild on the rosewood.

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