Sanding Sealer

[Lamar Wright]

Hello Turners, does anyone use a water base sanding sealer? Is so or if not what are the pros and cons? I bought some sanding sealer from Mylands and it seems to work well but however it has harsh flumes and my wife complained about the strong odor since my shop is in the basement. Is there a good option for a low odor sealer? I did not use a sealer making pens just CA. May have to use sealer in my garage! lol

 

[Mike Johnson]

I have used clear Shellac as a sanding sealer and there is very little odor to deal with.

 

[John Torchick]

Thanks, Mike.
Two options, Lamar- use a non-fuming sealer or get your wife an apartment. I recommend the former.

 

[tdrice]

I use a rattle can shellac. It has little odor, dries quickly and is suitable as an undercoat for almost any other finish.

 

[Mike Johnson]

To make the Shellac application quicker and easier, I store a wood handled brush in a plastic
screw lid bottle with and inch of alcohol in the bottom. I usually apply the Shellac using this brush
and put it directly into the bottle with the alcohol after each use. This saves having to clean the
brush each time and I can usually reach in with a finger and fish the brush out of the plastic bottle
without getting Shellac on my hands.

 

[hockenbery]

I use shellac mixed with twice the alcohol as a sanding sealer.
Also use it to stiffen slightly punky wood.
Dries in a few minutes.

 

[Lamar Wright]

Thanks, Mike.
Two options, Lamar- use a non-fuming sealer or get your wife an apartment. I recommend the former.

lol !

 

[john lucas]

I have never found a need for sanding sealer. I played with it early on but for my purposes I just don't need it. Sometimes I use Shellac to seal knots or to lock in a color before applying more color. I finish a lot of products with Lacquer and if I want more penetration I thin the first coat which is in effect a sealer.

 

[Lamar Wright]

To make the Shellac application quicker and easier, I store a wood handled brush in a plastic
screw lid bottle with and inch of alcohol in the bottom. I usually apply the Shellac using this brush
and put it directly into the bottle with the alcohol after each use. This saves having to clean the
brush each time and I can usually reach in with a finger and fish the brush out of the plastic bottle
without getting Shellac on my hands.

Good idea Mike. So you use one part shellac and two parts alcohol for the mix? Do you use denatured alcohol or regular rubbing alcohol?

 

[Mike Johnson]

I use denatured most of the time, I use Zinsser Shellac straight out of the can for sealing.

 

[Lamar Wright]

I use denatured most of the time, I use Zinsser Shellac straight out of the can for sealing.

Thanks Mike.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Good idea Mike. So you use one part shellac and two parts alcohol for the mix? Do you use denatured alcohol or regular rubbing alcohol?

Never rubbing alcohol, not even the 91% kind. There are two kinds of denatured alcohol at the hardware store... the regular stuff that is mostly methanol and a little ethanol and not very nice to handle or breathe ... and, the "green" variety that is mostly ethanol. I prefer the "green" variety. It isn't as bad about drying my hands, it doesn't irritate my sinuses, it's the traditional shellac solvent, and it's environmentally friendly.

 

[Lamar Wright]

Never rubbing alcohol, not even the 91% kind. There are two kinds of denatured alcohol at the hardware store... the regular stuff that is mostly methanol and a little ethanol and not very nice to handle or breathe ... and, the "green" variety that is mostly ethanol. I prefer the "green" variety. It isn't as bad about drying my hands, it doesn't irritate my sinuses, it's the traditional shellac solvent, and it's environmentally friendly.

Hey, thanks Bill for that information on alcohol. Will the "green" denatured alcohol be labeled as such or just look for mostly ethanol for the ingredients? I am going to mix my own sealer using shellac and alcohol.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Hey, thanks Bill for that information on alcohol. Will the "green" denatured alcohol be labeled as such or just look for mostly ethanol for the ingredients? I am going to mix my own sealer using shellac and alcohol.

Here is what the KleenStrip brand looks like: http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/green-denatured-alcohol

It's what regular denatured alcohol used to be before most of it started being used as an additive to auto gas.

 

[John Torchick]

Kleenstrip is what I have used for years. Get it at Lowe's.

 

[Lamar Wright]

Here is what the KleenStrip brand looks like: http://www.kleanstrip.com/product/green-denatured-alcohol

It's what regular denatured alcohol used to be before most of it started being used as an additive to auto gas.

Thanks Bill, I'll get me a can of KleenStrip tomorrow. Happy turning, ps- good look on your back surgery Bill. I had lower back surgery in 2007 and haven't had any back pain since.

Kleenstrip is what I have used for years. Get it at Lowe's.

Thanks John, getting a can of it tomorrow. Happy turning

 

[Dave Mueller]

When I use a sanding sealer, I use shellac. However, be aware that the Zinsser shellac you buy at Lowes may not be dewaxed. Zinsser sells a dewaxed shellac but it is sold under the name "Seal Coat Sanding Sealer", If it is not dewaxed, your top finish coat may not bond unless you sand the shellac back to the wood surface.

 

[Lamar Wright]

When I use a sanding sealer, I use shellac. However, be aware that the Zinsser shellac you buy at Lowes may not be dewaxed. Zinsser sells a dewaxed shellac but it is sold under the name "Seal Coat Sanding Sealer", If it is not dewaxed, your top finish coat may not bond unless you sand the shellac back to the wood surface.

Thanks Dave for that information. I'll be sure and make sure the shellac is dewaxed.