Shellac, like hot glue, is fantastic once you get some practice in
using it.  I buy it in flake form and mix to suit.  Lee Valley Tools
offers a variety of flake shellac grades as well as the proper alcohol
to dissolve it in.  They have a web site and will mail-order everywhere.

http://www.leevalley.com/home/main.asp

Ken Vinen - Aylmer, Ontario, Canada