jodybitzz
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Post by jodybitzz on Feb 14, 2015 10:13:41 GMT -8
So what in the world is going on with my shellac? These panels were done months ago and have been mounted in the camper since last summer. The camper is being stored out doors in NC (semi cold and inconsistent temps) My dad has been doing work in the camper and has a small space heater inside. The paneling has turned very milky in certain areas. Would the moisture from my dad breathing and being closed up in the camper cause this? How can it be fixed?
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jodybitzz
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Post by jodybitzz on Feb 14, 2015 10:14:48 GMT -8
Another area
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Feb 14, 2015 18:12:13 GMT -8
My guess is that you have moisture (behind, and inside the wood) under the shellac due to condensation.
I'd take a rag with Denatured Alcohol, and wipe the areas down "with the grain". You might need to do it a couple of times. Then just add some more shellac with a small rag, (Google) the technique know as French Polish. Do NOT try to do thick coats, always thin coats.
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Post by schweetcruisers on Feb 14, 2015 19:04:49 GMT -8
John nailed it, you either applied too many coats too fast or you applied the coat too thick. Too many too fast, trap the moisture in between the layers, too heavy mean the top skinned(started to cure) before the bottom was cured. Try the denatured trick first but you may need to sand it down and start over, also don't apply on a Hugh humidity day.
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jodybitzz
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Post by jodybitzz on Feb 14, 2015 19:38:39 GMT -8
John nailed it, you either applied too many coats too fast or you applied the coat too thick. Too many too fast, trap the moisture in between the layers, too heavy mean the top skinned(started to cure) before the bottom was cured. Try the denatured trick first but you may need to sand it down and start over, also don't apply on a Hugh humidity day. This happened when I first did the shellac last summer. I didn't let it have enough dry time inbetween coats. I redid them with techniques you listed. However, these panels that you see in the pictures have been completed for months. They have just been stored in the garage. They were installed in the camper last August and they were BEAUTiFUL! No imperfections, no cloudiness etc. Now, all of a sudden over the winter, this is what has happened since work has resumed inside the camper.
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John Palmer
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Post by John Palmer on Feb 15, 2015 9:37:58 GMT -8
John nailed it, you either applied too many coats too fast or you applied the coat too thick. Too many too fast, trap the moisture in between the layers, too heavy mean the top skinned(started to cure) before the bottom was cured. Try the denatured trick first but you may need to sand it down and start over, also don't apply on a Hugh humidity day. This happened when I first did the shellac last summer. I didn't let it have enough dry time inbetween coats. I redid them with techniques you listed. However, these panels that you see in the pictures have been completed for months. They have just been stored in the garage. They were installed in the camper last August and they were BEAUTiFUL! No imperfections, no cloudiness etc. Now, all of a sudden over the winter, this is what has happened since work has resumed inside the camper. Sorry!
But it's MOISTURE!
It's a form of "delamination", the Shellac is not still fully bonded to the wood.
Try the denatured alcohol, and reapply technique first because it's easy. You might need to scrape and sand it and start over if it does not work as Schweet suggested.
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pathfinder3081
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Feb 16, 2015 6:00:18 GMT -8
Bummer!! I know that everyone loves the "Shellac". It's the original finish and the way to do things. It looks beautiful and my every respect for those who use it. But it sure does come with a lot of "what if's, do this and you gotta watch out for this" thingies. Oh and if that happens, you can always strip it all off and start again. I hate it for you Jody. I remember the beautiful finish that you had on that ply. I would have thought by now that it was cured, bonded or whatever it seems it hadn’t done by now. Yuck
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ladywendolyn
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Post by ladywendolyn on Feb 18, 2015 16:33:21 GMT -8
I bet your dad running the heater caused some sort of condensation nightmare..(Cold outer wall of camper, warm inner wall) . I hate when stuff like this happens. I would wait till spring and see how it looks once it is in a stable temperature.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 20, 2015 7:03:15 GMT -8
This happened when I first did the shellac last summer. I didn't let it have enough dry time inbetween coats. I redid them with techniques you listed. However, these panels that you see in the pictures have been completed for months. They have just been stored in the garage. They were installed in the camper last August and they were BEAUTiFUL! No imperfections, no cloudiness etc. Now, all of a sudden over the winter, this is what has happened since work has resumed inside the camper.
Jody are you saying this happened overnight? And my other question is, from the looks of the first picture it only happened to certain panels and not all??? I've never seen or heard of anything like this. What a shame. Another question. Is the outside skin on yet or has it been sitting open all this time?
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Post by vikx on Feb 20, 2015 22:48:40 GMT -8
I'm seeing some panels are good and others have milked? Wonder about the quality of the panels. Did you buy them all at the same time?
Have heard horror stories about Chinese ply crackling after a finish but not milky. Also, my panels are fairly protected (enclosed inside the trailer) after installation.
We have damp weather and humidity here, that's an issue...
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 21, 2015 7:24:58 GMT -8
I'm seeing some panels are good and others have milked? Wonder about the quality of the panels. Did you buy them all at the same time? Have heard horror stories about Chinese ply crackling after a finish but not milky. Also, my panels are fairly protected (enclosed inside the trailer) after installation. We have damp weather and humidity here, that's an issue... Yep I was wondering the same thing.
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 21, 2015 7:29:20 GMT -8
How about condensation between the panel and the insulation?
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 21, 2015 7:35:19 GMT -8
How about condensation between the panel and the insulation? John mentioned the possibility of moisture but why would some panels be affected and others not? If it is moisture then I think some of the panels may be defective. This REALLY sucks and if it ever happened to me I think I would cry....
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SusieQ
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Post by SusieQ on Feb 21, 2015 8:48:04 GMT -8
Temps and/or air circulation could make the difference. But looks like to me that moisture got to the shellac from the shellacked side. Maybe the shellac was too thick and never cured completely on some panels or some of the panels had moisture in them. Very strange. My panels rippled when my trailer got wet but it did not hurt my shellac.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Feb 21, 2015 13:20:54 GMT -8
How old is/was the shellac itself? I have heard that you should use shellac right away once the can is opened. If not it does strange things. Never bothered to find out what strange things it does if used when old.
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