Editing Shellac (section)

=== Current uses ===
It is the central element of the traditional "[[French polish]]" method of [[wood finishing|finishing]] furniture, fine [[string instrument]]s, and [[piano]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bitmead |first1=Richard |title=French Polishing and Enamelling |date=1910 |publisher=Crosby Lockwood and Son |location=London |pages=Preface, 18 ff |edition=4 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/17935/17935-h/17935-h.htm |access-date=26 June 2021}}</ref>

Shellac, being edible, is used as a [[glazing agent]] on pills (see [[excipient]]) and sweets, in the form of [[pharmaceutical glaze]] (or, "confectioner's glaze"). Because of its acidic properties (resisting stomach acids), shellac-coated pills may be used for a timed [[Enteric coating|enteric]] or colonic release.<ref>[http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6620431.html Shellac film coatings providing release at selected pH and method – US Patent 6620431] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083616/http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6620431.html |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref> Shellac is used as a 'wax' coating on citrus fruit to prolong its shelf/storage life. It is also used to replace the natural wax of the [[apple]], which is removed during the cleaning process.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://usapple.org/consumers/wax.cfm |title=US Apple: Consumers – FAQs: Apples and Wax |access-date=2012-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101203123752/http://usapple.org/consumers/wax.cfm |archive-date=3 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> When used for this purpose, it has the [[food additive]] [[E number]] E904.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bleached Shellac |url=https://shellacthailand.com/en/product-and-services/bleached-shellac/ |publisher=Creasia Group |access-date=19 October 2022}}</ref>

Shellac is an odour and stain blocker and so is often used as the base of "all-purpose" primers. Although its durability against abrasives and many common solvents is not very good, shellac provides an excellent barrier against water vapour penetration. Shellac-based primers are an effective sealant to control odours associated with fire damage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stanton |first1=Cole |title=Solutions by Sixes and Sevens: Smoke Sealers during Smoke Odor & Fire Damage Restoration |url=https://www.randrmagonline.com/articles/87371-solutions-by-sixes-and-sevens-smoke-sealers-during-smoke-odor-fire-damage-restoration |website=Restoration & Remediation Magazine |access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref>

Shellac has traditionally been used as a dye for cotton and, especially, silk cloth in Thailand, particularly in the north-eastern region.<ref name="Suanmuang Tulaphan, Phunsap, Silk Dyeing With Natural Dyestuffs in Northeastern Thailand, 1999, p. 26-30 (in Thai).">Suanmuang Tulaphan, Phunsap, ''Silk Dyeing With Natural Dyestuffs in Northeastern Thailand'', 1999, p. 26-30 (in Thai)</ref> It yields a range of warm colours from pale yellow through to dark orange-reds and dark ochre.<ref name="Punyaprasop, Daranee (Ed.)Colour And Pattern On Native Cloth, 2001, p. 253, 256 (in Thai).">Punyaprasop, Daranee (Ed.)Colour ''And Pattern On Native Cloth'', 2001, p. 253, 256 (in Thai)</ref> Naturally dyed silk cloth, including that using shellac, is widely available in the rural northeast, especially in [[Ban Khwao District]], [[Chaiyaphum province]]. The Thai name for the insect and the substance is "khrang" (Thai: ครั่ง).{{Cn|date=January 2021}}

====Wood finish====

Wood finishing is one of the most traditional and still popular uses of shellac mixed with solvents or alcohol. This dissolved shellac liquid, applied to a piece of wood, is an evaporative finish: the alcohol of the shellac mixture evaporates, leaving behind a protective film.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Woodworking Tools and Techniques: An Introduction to Basic Woodworking|last=Marshall|first=Chris|publisher=Creative Publishing International, US|year=2004|pages=137}}</ref>

Shellac as wood finish is natural and non-toxic in its pure form. A finish made of shellac is UV-resistant. For water-resistance and durability, it does not keep up with synthetic finishing products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediyhammer.com/shellac-vs-polyurethane-vs-varnish-wood-finishing-faqs/|title=Wood Finishing FAQs: Shellac vs. Polyurethane vs. Varnish|website=TheDIYhammer|date=31 July 2019|access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref>

Because it is compatible with most other finishes, shellac is also used as a barrier or primer coat on [[wood]] to prevent the bleeding of [[resin]] or [[pigments]] into the final finish, or to prevent [[wood stain]] from blotching.<ref name="WoodworkDetails.com2">Shellac, [http://www.woodworkdetails.com/knowledge/finishing/shellac WoodworkDetails.com: Shellac as a Woodworking Finish]{{Circular reference|date=March 2015}}</ref>

==== Other ====
Shellac is used:
* in the tying of artificial flies for trout and salmon, where the shellac was used to seal all trimmed materials at the head of the fly.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* in combination with wax for preserving and imparting a shine to [[Citrus|citrus fruits]], such as [[lemon]]s and [[Orange (fruit)|orange]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/vegans-fruit-unsuitable-wax-diet-b2149877.html |title=Why not all fruit is suitable for vegans |date=2022-08-22 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=The Independent |last=Sommerlad |first=Joe}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |title=Shellac, gelatin and Persian gum as alternative coating for orange fruit |journal=Scientia Horticulturae |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304423817303849 |last1=Khorram |first1=Fereshteh |date=2017-11-18 |volume=225 |pages=22–28 |last2=Ramezanian |first2=Asghar |doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2017.06.045 |last3=Hosseini |first3=Seyyed Mohammad Hashem|bibcode=2017ScHor.225...22K }}</ref>
* in [[dentistry|dental technology]], where it is occasionally used in the production of custom impression trays and temporary denture baseplate production.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=The production of shellac and its general and dental uses: a review |journal=Journal of Oral Rehabilitation |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2842.1993.tb01623.x#:~:text=In%20its%20refined%20form%2C%20shellac,rims%20when%20recording%20jaw%20relationships. |last1=Azouka |first1=A. |issue=4 |volume=20 |pages=393–400 |last2=Huggett |first2=R. |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2842.1993.tb01623.x |year=1993 |last3=Harrison |first3=A.|pmid=8350174 }}</ref>
* as a binder in [[India ink]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ink |url=https://www.moma.org/collection/terms/ink |website=MoMA |access-date=17 October 2021}}</ref>
* for [[bicycles]], as a protective and decorative coating for [[bicycle handlebar]] tape,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.outyourbackdoor.com/article.php?id=428 |title=Shellac & Twine makes Handlebar fine |date=21 August 2005 |website=Out Your Backdoor |access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> and as a hard-drying adhesive for [[tubular tyres]], particularly for [[track cycling|track racing]].<ref>[http://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/mounting-tubulars.html Mounting Tubular Tires] by [[Jobst Brandt]]</ref>
* for re-attaching ink sacs when restoring vintage [[fountain pen]]s, the orange variety preferably.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* applied as a coating with either a standard or modified Huon-Stuehrer nozzle, can be economically micro-sprayed onto various smooth candies, such as chocolate coated peanuts. Irregularities on the surface of the product being sprayed may result in the formation of unsightly aggregates ("lac-aggs") which precludes the use of this technique on foods such as walnuts or raisins.
* for fixing pads to the key-cups of [[woodwind]] instruments.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* for [[luthier]]ie applications, to bind wood fibres down and prevent tear out on the soft [[spruce]] soundboards.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* to stiffen and impart water-resistance to felt hats, for wood finishing<ref>{{cite web |url=http://antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/shellac.htm |title=Shellac: A traditional finish still yields superb results |last=Jewitt |first=Jeff |website=Antique Restorers |access-date=16 March 2015}}</ref> and as a constituent of ''gossamer'' (or ''goss'' for short), a cheesecloth fabric coated in shellac and [[ammonia]] solution used in the shell of traditional silk [[top hats|top]] and riding hats.
* for mounting insects, in the form of a gel adhesive mixture composed of 75% ethyl alcohol.<ref>[http://www.nadsdiptera.org/News/FlyTimes/issue18.htm Fly Times: Shellac gel for insect mounting]</ref>
* as a binder in the fabrication of [[abrasive wheel]]s,<ref>{{Cite book
 |title=Grinding Technology: Theory and Applications of Machining With Abrasives
 |author=Stephen Malkin |author2=Changsheng Guo
 |publisher=Industrial Press
 |year=2008
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l3260ZF_PfQC&pg=PA5
 |page=5
|isbn=9780831132477 }}</ref> imparting flexibility and smoothness not found in vitrified (ceramic bond) wheels. 'Elastic' bonded wheels typically contain [[plaster of paris]], yielding a stronger bond when mixed with shellac; the mixture of dry plaster powder, abrasive (e.g. [[corundum]]/[[aluminium oxide]] Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>), and shellac are heated and the mixture pressed in a mould.
* in [[fireworks]] pyrotechnic compositions as a low-temperature fuel, where it allows the creation of pure 'greens' and 'blues'- colours difficult to achieve with other fuel mixes.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* in [[jewellery]]; shellac is often applied to the top of a 'shellac stick' in order to hold small, complex, objects. By melting the shellac, the jeweller can press the object (such as a stone setting mount) into it. The shellac, once cool, can firmly hold the object, allowing it to be manipulated with tools.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stone Setting Tools FAQs |url=https://www.ganoksin.com/article/stone-setting-tools-faqs/|access-date=2022-01-25|website=Ganoksin|language=en}}</ref>
* in [[watchmaking]], due to its low melting temperature (about {{convert|80|-|100|C}}), shellac is used in most mechanical movements to adjust and adhere pallet stones to the [[pallet fork]] and secure the roller jewel to the roller table of the [[balance wheel]]. Also for securing small parts to a 'wax chuck' (faceplate) in a watchmakers' lathe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shellac |url=https://watchmakingjourney.com/tag/shellac/ |access-date=2022-07-12 |website=watchmaking journey |date=19 September 2014 |language=en}}</ref>
* in the early twentieth century, it was used to protect some military [[rifle]] stocks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/faq/#Q3 |title=What kind of finish is on my stock? |website=Russian Mosin Nagant Forum |access-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>
* in [[Jelly Belly]] jelly beans, in combination with [[beeswax]] to give them their final buff and polish.<ref>[http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/faq/q-and-a/?id=11 Q&A – Jelly Belly jelly beans] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105045321/http://www.jellybelly-uk.com/faq/q-and-a/?id=11 |date=5 January 2014 }}</ref>
* in modern traditional [[archery]], shellac is one of the [[Hot-melt adhesive|hot-melt glue/resin]] products used to attach [[arrowhead]]s to wooden or bamboo [[arrow]] shafts.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sapp |first=Rick |title=The Ultimate Guide to Traditional Archery |year=2013 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781626365360}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/26595 | title=Part of a Quiver &#124; Tibetan or Mongolian |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref>
* in alcohol solution as [[sanding sealer]], widely sold to seal sanded surfaces, typically wooden surfaces before a final coat of a more durable finish. Similar to French polish but more dilute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dezeil |first=Chris |title=What is a Sanding Sealer? |date=23 April 2009 |url=https://www.hunker.com/12170980/what-is-a-sanding-sealer }}</ref>
* as a topcoat in [[nail polish]] (although not all [[nail polish]] sold as "shellac" contains shellac, and some [[nail polish]] not labelled in this way does).{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* in sculpture, to seal [[plaster]] and in conjunction with wax or oil-soaps, to act as a barrier during mold-making processes.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* as a dilute solution in the sealing of [[harpsichord]] soundboards, protecting them from dust and buffering humidity changes while maintaining a bare-wood appearance.{{Cn|date=January 2021}}
* as a waterproofing agent for leather (e.g., for the soles of [[figure skate]] boots).
* as a way for ballet dancers to harden their [[pointe shoes]], making them last longer.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ballet.org.uk/blog-detail/a-guide-to-pointe-shoes/ | title=Everything you Need to Know About Pointe Shoes |publisher=English National Ballet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang Foster |first=Hannah |title=Confessions of a Pointe Shoe Fitter: A Specialist Tells All |date=31 May 2016 |url=https://pointemagazine.com/pointe-shoe-fitting/ |publisher=Pointe Magazine}}</ref>