Hi, Barbara I got my shellac flakes from this place on the net -- I just checked that they are still there. http://www.woodfinishingsupplies.com/Shellac.htm They seem to carry Behlen products, which Ed suggested. They also have 200 proof denatured alcohol, which has no methanol or water in it. 9% isopropyl, and a couple of other things in it. I've used bulk ethanol from the liquor store, 190 proof, and it works well. People have told me that some states don't allow 190 proof to be sold, though. I did try very dilute keytop/acetone on a few notes once, and I must admit that I heard that spicky clicky sound ever afterward, even after needling -- though I didn't go so far as to try to soak it out with acetone. It was after that experience, and after reading a hint from Horace saying that Steinway used to use shellac (they'd just use whatever their finishing department used) that I tried shellac and really like it. Nontoxic, as well, especially if made up with pure ethanol. Nice little lac bug -- friend of man. The color -- well, one doesn't want the hammers grossly stained, like they would be with some shellacs, but having just a little color in there (like the ultrablonde color) isn't totally bad. It lets one see exactly how far the solution is wicking. And, like Horace says, how they sound is what really matters. Regards, Susan At 03:52 PM 5/23/2005 -0500, you wrote: >Hey Susan, > >Great advice--though you'd never have to worry about me lacquering the heck >out of hammers. If they call me, this could turn out to be the first >time in my life I've worked on Steinway hammers that *weren't* lacquered to >death (but, I'm pretty good at working with the ones that have been!). > >By the by, where do you get your shellac flakes--paint store, word working >store, internet? I have also experienced the phenomenon of keytop/acetone >disappearing--maybe because I don't use a strong concentration and/or very >much of it, either. > >Barbara Richmond >
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