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Which solvent is used to thin shellac?

Denatured alcohol.

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  1. Mineral spirits
  2. Denatured alcohol ✔
  3. Water

Why: Shellac is thinned with denatured alcohol. It is a fast-drying finish, but it does not stand up well to water, alcohol or heat, so a spilled drink can mark it.

Huh, didn't know that: The Wood Handbook says knots can be sealed with shellac before priming so their resins do not bleed through paint.

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References

Answer: Denatured alcohol. Shellac is thinned with denatured alcohol. It is a fast-drying finish, but it does not stand up well to water, alcohol or heat, so a spilled drink can mark it.

  1. Wood Finishing & Refinishing Fact Sheet #1, Getting Ready (Utah State University Extension, L. Hawks) digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2513&context=extension_curall
    A solvent used to thin wood refinishing materials such as shellac.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  2. Wood Finishing & Refinishing Fact Sheet #1, Getting Ready (Utah State University Extension, L. Hawks) digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2513&context=extension_curall
    It is fast-drying, but not resistant to moisture, alcohol, heat, scratches, and chips.
    Checked 2026-10-10.
  3. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material, FPL-GTR-282 (USDA Forest Products Laboratory, 2021) research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/62200
    Knots can be sealed with shellac or specially formulated knot sealer, followed by priming of the entire board.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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