18-09-2020, 07:12 PM
Alcohol is often thought of as a single substance but there are many alcohols and both their chemical and physical properties vary. Probably the most commonly used and most easily available are the alkanols. Methanol, ethanol and propa-2-ol (IPA) fall into this group. They are composed of a carbon chain, of varying lengths, and a functional group which in this case is an -OH group. Again the properties vary with the length of the carbon chain and the position of the functional group on the chain. Methanol and ethanol have the functional group on the end of the chain but propan-2-ol has it mid chain. Although all work as solvents each is best at dissolving particular groups of solutes. If the solvent used to dissolve Shellac is ethanol then the closest thing to pure ethanol (approx 99%) you can get is probably best. When I was working I had to have an excise license to buy pure ethanol. I also had to state a reason for it's use and it was very expensive as you had to pay excise duty. Clear meths is also probably difficult to get although as others have said it might be available via the internet. I think the most easily available is purple meths which as has been said can be around 90% ethanol. I seem to remember there were ways of removing the colour but this could be quite complicated. I would suggest trying purple meths with the Shellac in the hope that the Shellac will swamp the purple colour. If that fails try a drop of bleach in a small volume of purple meths. Ideally the bleach would be one that did not contain detergent. I have seen bleach tablets in pound shops which might produce detergent free bleach. Hope this is of some help. Good luck.
Ken.
Ken.
