Just realized my old shellac flakes were the reason my finish turned orange

Tbh, I mixed a fresh batch from flakes I've had since 2018 and the color shift on this maple dresser was wild. Has anyone else had a batch go bad after a few years, or did I just store it wrong in my garage?

3 comments

3 Comments

aaron_mitchell2mo ago

Yeah, that orange shift is a classic sign. @annajenkins is totally right about the heat in a garage ruining it. I had the same thing happen with some old flakes and it turned a pine project way too dark. Now I only mix small batches from fresh flakes and keep the bag in a kitchen cupboard, nowhere near any heat. It made a huge difference for keeping things light.

annajenkins2mo ago

Oh yeah, shellac can totally shift color like that! Heat and sunlight in a garage will absolutely make it go dark and orange over time. Those flakes from 2018 were probably cooked just sitting there. For the next batch, try keeping the dry flakes somewhere cool and dark, like a basement cabinet. Fresh is always best for a light finish on maple.

ross.lily2mo ago

But is it really that big of a deal? I've used older flakes before and the color was just a bit warmer, not ruined. Maybe it depends on the project.