A very informative tutorial, I need to do this! Thanks for sharing :-)

I live in Ontario Canada and can't get denatured alcohol. What else can I use?

Can you get 90% rubbing alcohol?

Not sure, I will look tomorrow

I googled the question and it seems like you should be able to get something close. Try google.

Maybe you can get some ideas from this page -> http://www.quiltingboard.com/vintage...193635-37.html

Janey - Neat people never make the exciting discoveries I do.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]571332[/ATTACH]This is 95% ethenal. Will this work?

Put a little on a Qtip and see if it softens shellac

I've not read this whole thread, but am starting on it tonight. So, the answers may already be here.

I realize I've had a couple of misconceptions. I thought the color on a sewing machine was shellac. (Someone questioned me on that yesterday.) Now, as I re-read some of this, now I think maybe the clear coat is the only shellac part. If so, what kind of paint is under it, or does it matter (if you are touching up bare metal)? Someone has a "featherweight touch-up paint" on Ebay that is acrylic and I know that's not original.

When a machine develops a "crinkle" in the finish, what has happened? Is that the clear coat or the entire finish (old Pfaff)?

bkay

Crinkle finish is caused by the machine being subject to hot and cold like extreme heat in the summer in a barn or attic.It could be in the Japan finish or in the shellac. Test the clear coat with a dab of alcohol and if the finish becomes sticky and melts your clear coat is shellac.