ColorTone Shellac

Dissolves well and consistently.

french polishing is the only way you can apply a finish at your kitchen table in the middle of winter!you just have to keep a little orange juice on the table to soak up any extra everclear

My first guitar was NC lacquer. Almost killed myself with fumes (i was outside too) This stuff is easy to apply, looks GREAT and is thin so you get less dampening than lacquer. I applied this in my room in my apartment with the windows closed an no problem. I start with this get everything leveled and pores filled then move to violin varnish as a topcoat. Shellac is unmatched

It's my first time using shellac and i have to say... Awesome!

Real good stuff! I bought the sample pack to get a feel of shellac and it was enough to do a violin, a mandolin and a few other small wood craft things i had lying about with LOTS extra. It really brings out wooden beauty!

The only thing that was confusing a little was the mixing ratio on the instructions. I had to look it up online to figure it out. It's easy once you understand what they mean.

"cut" apparently is the degree of dilution and the "pound" measurement is how much shellac flakes per gallon of solvent.

Therefore "3lbs cut" is same dilution ratio as 3 pounds of flakes per gallon of solvent. Of course less "pounds" shellac is the thinner the liquid. So "1lbs cut" is thinner than "3lbs cut"

Still great stuff!

Excellent quality and easy to use. Used the French polish technique described by Dan Erlewine in the trade secrets article over a tobacco/black/vintage amber dye and the guitar came up a treat

This is very good quality shellac, no doubt. It dissolved very well, and there were almost no impurities on the bottom.

However, you need to have good knowledge on how to get the desired colors. I'm still new to finishes, and I wanted a darker red tint to my already red-dish/pinkish mahogany (an epi LP, whose headstock I repaired, and stripped the poly finish, and fake maple top). But since there's a worldwide shortage of Ruby shellac, I got Garnet. But see, to get anywhere near that dark, you have to build up a pretty thick layer, otherwise it actually looks bright orange (actually looked greenish yellow on this particular wood). So I'll save the unmixed portion for later, and finish this ax in nitro with some colortone mixed in.

I can see how it would be awesome on walnut. Great product - I can tell it was selected with discernment.

excellent product.

Very good shellac flakes - the dewaxed platina shellac flakes I ordered didn't require much oil, so they are most likely quite fresh. Excellent shipping as always.

As a luthier, if you can take the time to use this, it will be so beneficial to your project that you wouldn't believe what turns up. French polishing not only works great, but you can be in complete control of the finish you apply. I love the amber color and I've tried just about every color their is in shellac, all suffice.
I recommend a practice piece for those who haven't done it, but buy this stuff. it changes everything! I placed a picture of a practice piece in both amber and natural with a sanding block (before final sanding and buffing)

I recently, did a mandolin from some of the Stewwmac Shellac what I would usually call super blonde, or the lightest color offered. My friend thought French polish was a pain in the neck. It actually makes my back hurt, but the results are stunning. I am trying to run stuff through the shop ASAP so only older photos exist, and I cannot show something done with someone else's product. You have to trust me on this.
Shellac is a thin long lasting finish that has minimal impact on a tops acoustic performance. I like the denatured alcohol aspect of it. It is not as nasty as lacquers and polyurethane solvents. I have not tried the other colors yet, but the way my friend complained about all the work needed and this and that I think he is going to let me try them all out. I knew he would hate that much work so I recommended it to him. I hope he does not see this review. LOL
For a trade secret Gojo, or Goop waterless hand cleaner is great for cleaning old antique shellac, varnish, lacquer, as well as poly finishes. It takes away metal corrosion gunk nothing else will too! It also lacks silicon.