Rick Inzero sent me a question by email about preparation of burnt
shellac. I thought there might be others interested in my reply.

I mix the shellac flakes with methyl alcohol. (It's known as methyl
hydrate in Canada -- I guess that's to throw off the wino's !)  The
trick with the alcohols is to find a brand that says on the label how
much water is in it.

Rubbing alcohol from a drugstore is typically about 20% water.  This
much water really compromises the usefulness of the shellac for a
variety of purposes, and slows down the dissolving of the flakes.
I also seem to recall isopropyl alcohol as being one of the less
desirable alcohols for shellac.  I think shellac is more soluble in
either methyl or ethyl alcohol.

The best source for nearly pure (denatured) ethyl alcohol is from Mohawk
Refinishing Supplies, which are sold in most big cities by specialty
woodworking or paint shops.  Get their shellac reducer.  It is also less
poisonous than methyl alcohol, though generally not as cheap.  Pour in
enough alcohol over the flakes to just cover them.  Close the container
tightly, and leave it for a day, maybe shaking it every few hours.

Once the shellac is ready, pour some into a tin can, take it outside
and set it on fire.  Every so often, put out the fire by choking with
another tin can on top.  Test the stuff for consistency.  When it seems
as sticky as you want, pour it off into a sealed container.  If the top
skins over after some time, pour in just a bit of alcohol and wait a
few hours.

By the way, a standard cut of shellac has lots of uses around the shop,
not the least of which is for re-sealing large pneumatic pallets, trunk
boards, etc.  I usually paint a thinned shellac solution into pouch
wells before re-leathering.  Just don't paint where glue will go later,
and let the shellac dry thoroughly.  It's also good for re-sealing the
exposed end-grain of striker decks and/or pouch boards.  It's amazing
how much that wood can leak after it has dried for 75 years, even if it
was sealed with shellac when it was new.

Have fun melting holes in the snow!

Doug Rhodes