.. Equal Parts ..
- Boiled Linseed Oil
- Clear Shellac
- Denatured Alcohol
This may read like a fairy tale, but it’s the truth. I was once attending a meeting of the Acadiana Woodturners in south central Louisiana, when a great older turner was doing a demonstration involving Bottle Stoppers. Once the turning was complete, he sanded to about 400 grit, wiped off the piece and began finishing. O.B. Lacoste was a great demonstrator and knew how to keep his audience’s attention.
It was time to apply a finish and time for a story about two Cajun Bumpkins. He applied the finish and started the story, which would take about 4 minutes. Using a blue paper towel from HD, he folded up a small pad, squirted a little finish on it and turned the lathe on fairly slow speed.
He was applying the finish and burnishing it with the pad. By telling the story, and just holding the pad, O.B. was applying and finishing the piece in one step. The constant light pressure was causing the shellac to cure by eliminating the solvent and using the oil as a polishing lubricant. The story was a great one, but I had to ask someone to tell it again, as I was completely involved with O.B. and his Shine Juice.
The formula is a fairly simple one. Mix equal parts of Boiled Linseed Oil, Clear Shellac and Denatured Alcohol. Only mix a small portion because the alcohol will escape and reduce the solvent portion. I keep mine in a Mason Type jar, stored with the top down. If it feels too thick, add a little alcohol.