Cleaning off Shellac stains?

[Brightraven]

Hello everyone,
I just applied a couple coats of shellac (for the first time) on the bottom of my Island Falls Wilderness Guide…yet I didn’t notice until too late that I spilled it a few times on some areas of the hull, which is painted white. Is there a way to remove the shellac off the paint, while still preserving the paint? I’ve read acetone can be a good remover but I wasn’t sure if that would also thin out the paint too much…
Any help is much appreciated!

Gregor

 

[Cruiser]

Methanol is the go to for shellac, as I understand it. That is the solvent used in the first place and it is supposed to redissolve very easily.

Brian

 

[billconner]

Alcohol of any kind. Shellac will always redisolve. My favorite finish for furniture and woodwork. Spot restorable forever. I doubt alcohol will affect the white painted area but you could test a spot first to be sure.

 

[Mark Z]

I have always understood that ethanol is the go to solvent for shellac. But, to prevent the stains, runs, etc., I tape a skirt of newspaper below the edge line where the shellac meets the paint. I use the green Frog tape to attach the newspaper at the edge line and seal the edge of the Frog tape by pressing it firmly to the hull with the edge of an old credit card. That is to prevent the shellac from bleeding under the tape.
Good luck.

 

[Cruiser]

I have always understood that ethanol is the go to solvent for shellac. But, to prevent the stains, runs, etc., I tape a skirt of newspaper below the edge line where the shellac meets the paint. I use the green Frog tape to attach the newspaper at the edge line and seal the edge of the Frog tape by pressing it firmly to the hull with the edge of an old credit card. That is to prevent the shellac from bleeding under the tape.
Good luck.

Apparently I fell into the trap of British versus North American terms for alcohol .....

Methylated Spirits: Is it the Best Solvent for Shellac? | Popular Woodworking

A woodworker friend called wanting to know where he could buy some methylated spirits. He had just read in a book that it was the best solvent to use with shellac. So I asked him if the book he was…

www.popularwoodworking.com

 

[billconner]

Denatured alcohol? can't see beyond paywall.

My colleague in Kentucky makes a lot of furniture - just beautiful stuff - reproductions of classic things - and swears by locally available moonshine.

 

[Brightraven]

Thanks for all the replies here! Much appreciated!