To Make A Liquid Polish/Sealer:

Mix ratio = 400mls of methylated spirits per 100grams of shellac flakes.

Note; Just add more Shellac if thicker viscosity is required.

• Use a plastic container and cover 100g of Shellac Flakes with 400mL of Methylated Spirits.
• Stir Shellac until it has semi dissolved,cover and leave solution to fully dissolve for an hour or two, stirring occasionally.
• Filter to remove any un-dissolved particles.

Note:

Because shellac is a natural product it contains impurities, so therefore has to be filtered before use. This can be best achieved by straining the dissolved shellac solution through an old stocking or fine gauze. It's best to weigh the shellac flakes - small inexpensive food portion scales are available at home hardware stores.

The traditional method of making the cut

In traditional terms the cut is often referred to as a something Lb cut - this is best explained as;

A 3 lb. cut would be 3 pounds (1.36 kg) of shellac dissolved in 1 gallon (4.5 litres) of methylated spirits or alcohol.

A 1 lb. cut would be 1 pound (0.45 kg or 453.6 grams) of shellac dissolved in a gallon (4.5 litres) an so on.

Since a gallon is a large amount for most finishing tasks, you can factor down the ratio to suit your needs.

For example 1/4 lb. (113.4 grams) flakes dissolved in 1 pint (500 mls) of methylated spirits or alcohol will yield a 2 lb. (0.9 kg)cut.

As you can see the larger the cut the more shellac flakes you are dissolving in the same amount of methylated spirits, therefore increasing the viscosity of the mix (making it thicker). Different polishers will use the different cuts for a number of reason, like a 2Lb cut for general polishing or a 1Lb cut for sealing timber or even a light repair job. Just remember the thick the cut the harder it is to work with.