In a message dated 11/10/05 12:18:27 PM, Alan Goldsworthy writes:
>
> Martin, Though I've never shellac-ed any cork myself, I see no reason why it
> can't be done.
>
I see one reason why it might not be advisable... shellac's relative degree of inflexibility. When used on a material that is hard (wood, tightly stretched cloth) there shouldn't be any problem... but for something as spongy as cork, I don't see how one could expect it not to craze, or even flake off.
John Thompson writes:
> Harrumph. Real Men go out and catch the beetles themselves and render
them down into shellac resin. :-)
John, that's great if you want bug paste, but to get shellac you need to collect the secretions the lac beetles leave behind on trees.
I've trained my beetles to secrete their resins directly onto my furniture. Saves a lot of work, though my wife is not too pleased with all the bugs in the house.
Bob Hovey
Columbus, GA