Removing Shell A Wax

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JoeSr

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Jul 22, 2014
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Location
McFarland, WI
Hi All,
When I started turning pens, not too long ago I used S-A-W and had great results except for the people who used the pens everyday. I am working on WOP now and have about a dozen blanks that have S-A-W on them and am wondering is it easy to remove the wax for WOP use, or wasting my time.

What would I use to clean it up for WOP. Now I use Acetone on all the blanks I turn, let it dry for a few seconds and the use 2 coats of non wax shellac Zinnzer's prior to WOP.

Thanks for any advice. Joe
 
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Shellawax is a blend of shellac and wax. You can apply WOP over shellac, but not over wax. That means that you need to remove at least the wax component of the Shellawax.

I can think of two solutions. One is to use a solvent - you mentioned acetone. If that's working for you, then the 'if it ain't broke' principle applies, so keep doing it.

The alternative is to sand off the Shellawax and refinish. I suspect that you don't really need to sand to bare wood through all the grits - back a couple of grits down from the finest sandpaper you used, thoroughly abrade the surface, and then finish the sequence. Unfortunately, my experience sanding something that has a wax finish is that the sandpaper clogs quickly.

Applying a barrier coat of shellac sealer (such as Zinsser's Seal Coat) probably makes sense in either case. I would buff after each coat of shellac with either 4/0 steel wool or a white Scotch-brite pad.
 
Thanks Louie, I will try to rub one of the blanks with acetone and see if it looks clean then seal with the Zinsser's and see what happens. I will let you know how it works. Joe
 
JoeSr said:
Thanks Louie, I will try to rub one of the blanks with acetone and see if it looks clean then seal with the Zinsser's and see what happens. I will let you know how it works. Joe
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Denatured alcohol is used to dissolve shellac flakes and is an excellent oil, grease, wax dissolver. You might want to try that as well. Be careful if the blank was dyed as DNA can also remove much of the dye color.

Michael
 
Thanks for the info about DNA also. I had acetone on hand and rubbed the blank good with that several times and wiped dry. Then applied two coats of Zinssers and it looks like that dried good so I will try to start the WOP soon. I will say that the blank is supper smooth. Thanks, Joe.
 
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