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My old boss in Austin swore by using a heat gun to strip shellac, but it just scorched the wood on a 1920s dresser.
Tbh, I should have tested it on a scrap piece first. Anyone have a better method for old shellac that won't risk burning the piece?
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adam_thomas2mo ago
Been there, that scorching is the worst.
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Heat guns can be tricky on old shellac for sure. Maybe try denatured alcohol with some fine steel wool first, it dissolves the shellac without the heat risk.
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haydenburns10d ago
Oh man, heat guns and old furniture are a dangerous combo honestly. I tried that same trick on a dining chair from the 40s and ended up with a permanent burn mark that looked like a weird tattoo. @adam_thomas probably knows the pain of watching your project go up in smoke literally. What worked for me was using denatured alcohol and letting it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing with a plastic scraper. The shellac just melts right off without any heat damage, plus it smells way less like a campfire. Just make sure you've got good ventilation cause that stuff is potent.
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