Removing sealer from back?

[bjrogg]

I have another HHB bow about done and looking for a good way to remove Shellac. I believe I've read where guy's cleaned up backs for glueing with oven cleaner. I tried heavy duty degreaser on a little spot on a stave. It actually took the shellac and stain off. All my other bows I just used steel wool, but some didn't take stain very good.
Bjrogg

[Pat B]

Alcohol will remove shellac and/or a light sanding.

[bjrogg]

Thanks Pat, I was kind of suspecting that. I believe I'll get some and give it a try.
Bjrogg

[Stick Bender]

Im doing the same thing this week end on a osage back, I did it before whith denatured alcohol & it worked for the most part but realy had to rub hard & did some light sanding I got one of those pump plastic bottles & sprayed & keeped rubbing with fresh rags the alcohol just seems to keep
Thining it tell you get it all off

[Pat B]

Alcohol is the carrier for shellac. The shellac will dissolve when it comes in contact with the alcohol. It may leave a slight residue so light sanding might be in order so the wood accepts the stain. As always, do a test first.

[DC]

I haven't had much luck removing shellac with alcohol. Methyl hydrate is alcohol isn't it? I end up using lacquer thinner and xxx steel wool. Even then the back is darker than parts of the bow that have been worked. Or maybe that's normal, it's happened on all my bows.

[Springbuck]

 Pats got it.  Alky and steel wool.  Acetone will work, but is such a pain, and so toxic, evaporates so fast.

[Pappy]

I just use a scrapper, very lightly.
 Pappy

[Eric Krewson]

I shellac the back of every stave I cut with 3 or 4 coats, I use a scraper to remove the shellac. Shellac is very brittle and scrapes off easily. A light scraping to remove the shellac and to take any remaining tool marks out, a little sanding to finish the back and remove the scraper marks and you are good to go.