Pro tip: My neighbor's kid called my shellac finish 'sticky' and he was right.

Jamie Cooper · 2026-04-16T02:45:05.268253+00:00

I was rushing a job and didn't let the dewaxed flakes dissolve fully in the denatured alcohol for the full 48 hours. Anyone else have a foolproof way to tell when your mix is truly ready?

dianahayes6mo ago

Yeah, that sticky feeling is the worst. I read somewhere that if you pull a brush through the mix and it leaves a clear path that stays open for a few seconds, it's usually good to go. But honestly, I've started leaning more on the dried film test like vera514 said, that snap doesn't lie. It just takes a little patience to make a test puddle and let it dry, which is hard when you're in a rush.

8

vera5146mo ago

Check for a clear, sharp snap when you break a dried film.

6

eva_thompson6mo ago

Ugh, I just wait the full two days now.

4