Zinsser Seal Coat
 

Based on a recommendation, I mixed a 60/40 solution of Seal Coat & Mineral Spirits as a sealer. Dries very quickly. I'm using this on my protos. I've been soaking hard maple & yellow birch in it for about 6 minutes. It's dry within about 90 minutes.

I probably should have used denatured alcohol to cut it, as that is the base.

Anyone else try this stuff?

I am curious to hear your results....is it pricey?

It's ~$8.00/qt.

A tall, 9.5" pickle jar cost about $20 to fill ($12.00 for 1.5 qts of Seal Coat, $7.00 for a quart of Mineral Spirits).

it says under all clear coats. doesnt say anything about paint. my experience with shellac is it alligators over time . especially with other finishes over it.

What is "alligators"?

like a crackle finish.

Seal coat is dewaxed shellac and is alcohol(denatured)based and doesn't "mix" with mineral spirits.It is only guaranteed under clear coats for interior applications.Shellac simply is not made for any type of exterior application,it doesn't play well with moisture and temp changes.Using it as a sealer on plugs is asking for failure.

You need to use some type of oil based product.I personally like a 60/40 mix of Penetrol and Naphtha.It ain't gonna dry as quick as shellac but it will actually seal the wood.

Isn't BINS primer shellac-based? I understand a lot of people prime with that.

BINS is a pigmented shellac that still needs a traditional oil based primer like Coverstain over it for exterior apps if sealing knots.BINS actually sucks for any type of outside application and that's why most folks seal knots with epoxy.But knots in a plug are really not a concern...an oil based product thinned with a petroleum based thinner will do the trick.Dry time is useless if you don't seal the wood properly.

Penetrol(or boiled linseed oil) and Naphtha,60/40.Plus you can always add a little Jap Dryer to it if you're really concerned about dry time.

Bottom line...if the word Shellac is involved don't use it.

Thanks for the info.

Do rags soaked in Penetrol have the same spontaneously-combustible concerns as BLO?

Yes.Dispose of rags properly,its an oilbased product.

Thanks.

Eric - Try Val oil and a thinner reducer. It is oil base and drys quickly. You do not have to soak the plugs long and it is a excellent sealer. Also do a search. Joe Brotz posted another sealer recently. Does a similar job.

I keep a gallon jug with the mixture and keep adding to it. Dunk or soak depending on the wood and wipe off excess - hang to dry.

seal
 

Try a white oil based paint & Thin with Mineral spirits till it is very thin.Use a 2 1/2" pvc pipe with a cap on one end.Fill pvc tube to desired height.Submerge plug for at least 1 minute.Let dry,then sand smooth again.This can be done a 2nd time,but not necessary.

i seal everything with etex. thin it down with DA 70-30, put those blanks in the oven and bless them with the mix in and out.they'll be like steel.