Lacquer is 'gelling up' on me

[PeteD]

Brand new to trying French Polish, and am experiencing a 'gelling up' or 'balling up' of the lacquer. I have made up what I think is about a small amount of 2lb cut (2oz of flakes with 8 oz denatured alcohol). At first it seemed to be ok although the flakes were not fully disolved, but then it started to almost go to a gel consistency. When I pour it into a small dish for application, it tends to gel up more as I work with it over a few minutes. It takes on a consistency of small gelatenous balls. I can sort of rub it into the grain and I think it is working, but I have to account for all of the little balls (maybe a tenth of a milimeter or so in size?) or else I'll get some nasty bumps in the finish. The flakes are a few years old and were from a reputable luthier store. Maybe the age of the flakes is an issue, although that would surprise me a bit.

Because of this, I went out and bought some Zinsser 3lb cut amber at the hardware store since I'm under abit of a timeline to get this guitar done by someone's birthday. Unfortunatly, I did not realize that this was not de-waxed (evidently their sealer is dewaxed, or so I've heard). I was planning to finish with KTM-9 over the lacquer, but will the fact that this is not de-waxed create issues with bonding? If so, could I apply more de-waxed shellac over the coats I have and then use the KTM, or should I just sand it all back?

Thanks in advance for any insight to help this newbie out!

[Ron Belanger]

If the shellac flakes are not fully disolving then it is too old. You can use alcohol to remove the existing shellac finish before applying the dewaxed. If you used epoxy to pore fill there is no need to use shellac under the KTM 9. I use KTM finishes and use epoxy under it including tops and woods that don't need filling with no problems.

[Mark Swanson]

You are talking about Shellac, and not lacquer. They are two different things, and if you are french polishing and mixing flakes then you are using shellac.

[PeteD]

Yeah...wooops. I was thinking shellac and typed lacquer. My bad!

So, looks like the flakes are too old and I should scrape or sand back. But for the pores that are filled (mahogany), should I be ok to live with the shellac I have in there?

[Mark Swanson]

Pete, yes, I think that just sanding back will get you all fixed up.
By the way, we require the use of full names both first and last- can you please let one of the moderators know your last name, or just post it here in your reply and we'll fix it for you.