Have you put a different kind of clear coat on instead of shellac?

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03-20-2018, 07:27 PM

smokeythecat

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Join Date: Mar 2018

Posts: 87

Have you put a different kind of clear coat on instead of shellac?

Has anybody removed the shellac from their machine and put on a different type of finish, or just added it on top of the shellac? I'm curious of the different possibilities as mine is flaking and nasty and I'd like to protect the pretty paint.

03-21-2018, 05:47 AM

OurWorkbench

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Join Date: Mar 2015

Location: Denver, CO

Posts: 4,300

I'm sure there has been someone that has used a different type of clear coat on a machine. I am not fond of those that paint machines simply for the reason of changing it. I think that even pretty bad looking machines should be preserved as much as possible. Have you looked at Cleaning and repairing the Shellac clear coat on Vintage sewing machine heads I know it is a long thread, but that would be the best way to maintain the machine.

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

03-21-2018, 07:48 AM

Quilterman

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Join Date: Feb 2018

Posts: 90

I have heard some people use lacquer or clear enamel instead of shellac. I don't even like using shellac
on cabinets because some polishes can attack it.

There is a great book on the FW " The Featherweight 221 and I " by David McCallum that
covers all types of surface repairs and refinishing.

03-22-2018, 11:58 AM

smokeythecat

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Join Date: Mar 2018

Posts: 87

Well i have applied polyurethane on the bed of the machine and you can see the difference between where there was shellac left and where it was all gone (i cleaned with denatured alcohol but some spots of the decals started being affected so i gave up on getting it all), but i think it looks pretty good. Not perfect but definitely not a Disaster or anything

Last edited by smokeythecat; 03-22-2018 at 12:02 PM.