How to clean SHELLAC from your jewellery! => 7 photos

 You've just finished your engraving while it was on your shellac stick. What would you do next?

 I would examine to see if the engraved plate to see if any more engraving is warranted. Because once the plate is off the shellac stick, the next step is this cleaning.

 This is so very important, I suggest printing out the instructions.

 With a low flame of your torch, GENTLY heat up the plate. Heating the shellac will only cause a bubbling action, and the shellac will be ruined for future applications.

 

 I use "Methyl Hydrate" as the preferred (liquid) medium to remove all of the shellac. I'd place this liquid in a glass jar and have it not only soak, but also completely immerse it.

 

 Place this jar of alcohol into an ultrasonic tank, and the intense vibration will cause the alcohol to loosen the shellac.

 How easy is this? The time being spent without any intensive vibration could take up to ONE HOUR or more (if you're lucky). 

 But using this 'ultrasonic' technique, the total amount of time is now measured in minutes.

 If your cleaner has the option to warm up the liquid, your success rate is greatly improved.

  I usually keep the ultrasonic cleaner on a 3-5 minute timer; that is all that is needed.

 This combination of warming the liquid and intense vibration will give you a complete & thorough cleaning.

 How fast was this cleaning technique? Quick & easy!