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79-421: Shellac ( / ʃ ə ˈ l æ k / ) is a resin secreted by the female lac bug on trees in the forests of India and Thailand. Chemically, it is mainly composed of aleuritic acid , jalaric acid, shellolic acid, and other natural waxes. It is processed and sold as dry flakes and dissolved in alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish . Shellac functions as

158-507: A partial calque of French laque en écailles , 'lac in thin pieces', later gomme-laque , 'gum lac'. Most European languages (except Romance ones and Greek) have borrowed the word for the substance from English or from the German equivalent Schellack . Shellac is scraped from the bark of the trees where the female lac bug, Kerria lacca (order Hemiptera, family Kerriidae , also known as Laccifer lacca ), secretes it to form

237-650: A spirit varnish based on gum benjamin or mastic , both traded around the Mediterranean. At some time, shellac began to be used as well. An article from the Journal of the American Institute of Conservation describes using infrared spectroscopy to identify shellac coating on a 16th-century cassone. This is also the period in history where "varnisher" was identified as a distinct trade, separate from both carpenter and artist. Another use for shellac

316-490: A bit undone). Colors connected with earthy tones: grays, greens and browns are very common here. See Adirondack Architecture . Mission design is characterised by straight, thick horizontal and vertical lines and flat panels. The most common material used in Mission furniture is oak. For early mission cabinetmakers, the material of choice was white oak, which they often darkened through a process known as "fuming" . Hardware

395-410: A complex mix of aliphatic and alicyclic hydroxy acids and their polymers that varies in exact composition depending upon the source of the shellac and the season of collection. The major component of the aliphatic component is aleuritic acid , whereas the main alicyclic component is shellolic acid . Shellac is UV-resistant, and does not darken as it ages (though the wood under it may do so, as in

474-502: A component of heat-cured capping cement used to fasten the caps or bases to the bulbs of electric lamps. It is the central element of the traditional " French polish " method of finishing furniture, fine string instruments , and pianos . Shellac, being edible, is used as a glazing agent on pills (see excipient ) and sweets, in the form of pharmaceutical glaze (or, "confectioner's glaze"). Because of its acidic properties (resisting stomach acids), shellac-coated pills may be used for

553-412: A drop of a solvent such as acetone or chloroform is placed on it. African copal and the kauri gum of New Zealand are also procured in a semi-fossil condition. Rosin is a solidified resin from which the volatile terpenes have been removed by distillation. Typical rosin is a transparent or translucent mass, with a vitreous fracture and a faintly yellow or brown colour, non-odorous or having only

632-494: A growing demand by the rising middle class in most industrialised countries for finely made furniture. This eventually grew the total number of traditional cabinet makers. Before 1650, fine furniture was a rarity in Western Europe and North America. Generally, people did not need it and for the most part could not afford it. They made do with simple but serviceable pieces. The Arts and Crafts movement which started in

711-435: A material that is intended to be finished with a stain or other transparent or semi-transparent finish. MDF has been the primary choice among manufacturers to be used on a solid finish painted surface. Cabinets which rest on the floor are supported by some base. This base could be a fully enclosed base (i.e. a plinth ), a scrolled based, bracket feet or it could be a set of legs. A type of adjustable leg has been adopted from

790-592: A melting point of 75 °C (167 °F), it can be classed as a thermoplastic used to bind wood flour , the mixture can be moulded with heat and pressure. Shellac scratches more easily than most lacquers and varnishes, and application is more labour-intensive, which is why it has been replaced by plastic in most areas. Shellac is much softer than Urushi lacquer, for instance, which is far superior with regard to both chemical and mechanical resistance. But damaged shellac can easily be touched up with another coat of shellac (unlike polyurethane, which chemically cures to

869-416: A moulding compound. Shellac (both orange and white varieties) was used both in the field and laboratory to glue and stabilise dinosaur bones until about the mid-1960s. While effective at the time, the long-term negative effects of shellac (being organic in nature) on dinosaur bones and other fossils is debated, and shellac is very rarely used by professional conservators and fossil preparators today. Shellac

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948-457: A protective film. Shellac as wood finish is natural and non-toxic in its pure form. A finish made of shellac is UV-resistant. For water-resistance and durability, it does not keep up with synthetic finishing products. Because it is compatible with most other finishes, shellac is also used as a barrier or primer coat on wood to prevent the bleeding of resin or pigments into the final finish, or to prevent wood stain from blotching. Shellac

1027-518: A run of cabinets. Kitchen cabinets, or any cabinet generally at which a person may stand, usually have a fully enclosed base in which the front edge has been set back 75 mm or so to provide room for toes, known as the kick space . A scrolled base is similar to the fully enclosed base but it has areas of the base material removed, often with a decorative pattern, leaving feet on which the cabinet stands. Bracket feet are separate feet, usually attached in each corner and occasionally for larger pieces in

1106-456: A slight turpentine odour and taste. Rosin is insoluble in water, mostly soluble in alcohol, essential oils , ether , and hot fatty oils. Rosin softens and melts when heated and burns with a bright but smoky flame. Rosin consists of a complex mixture of different substances including organic acids named the resin acids . Related to the terpenes, resin acid is oxidized terpenes. Resin acids dissolve in alkalis to form resin soaps , from which

1185-432: A small amount of wax (3%–5% by volume), which comes from the lac bug. In some preparations, this wax is removed (the resulting product being called "dewaxed shellac"). This is done for applications where the shellac will be coated with something else (such as paint or varnish), so the topcoat will adhere. Waxy (non-dewaxed) shellac appears milky in liquid form, but dries clear. Shellac comes in many warm colours, ranging from

1264-413: A small percentage of furniture production in any industrial country, but their numbers are vastly greater than those of their counterparts in the 18th century and before. Glamour style was originally a combination of English, Greek Revival, French Regency and Hollywood glamour. The main colours of glam cabinets can follow high impact or soft and luxurious directions. The most important feature of this style

1343-410: A solid) because the new coat merges with and bonds to the existing coat(s). Shellac is soluble in alkaline solutions of ammonia , sodium borate , sodium carbonate , and sodium hydroxide , and also in various organic solvents . When dissolved in alcohol (typically denatured ethanol ) for application, shellac yields a coating of good durability and hardness. Upon mild hydrolysis shellac gives

1422-702: A stain if the user wants the wood to be coloured; clear or blonde shellac may be applied over a stain without affecting the colour of the finished piece, as a protective topcoat. "Wax over shellac" (an application of buffed-on paste wax over several coats of shellac) is often regarded as a beautiful, if fragile, finish for hardwood floors. Luthiers still use shellac to French polish fine acoustic stringed instruments, but it has been replaced by synthetic plastic lacquers and varnishes in many workshops, especially high-volume production environments. Shellac dissolved in alcohol, typically more dilute than as used in French polish,

1501-406: A table top may have what is considered a "live edge" that allows you to see the original contours of the tree that it came from. It also often uses whole logs or branches including the bark of the tree. Rustic furniture is often made from pine , cedar , fir and spruce . Rustic furniture is usually very simple, handmade and oversized. It is characterised by a bit of roughness (raw woods which look

1580-466: A timed enteric or colonic release. Shellac is used as a 'wax' coating on citrus fruit to prolong its shelf/storage life. It is also used to replace the natural wax of the apple , which is removed during the cleaning process. When used for this purpose, it has the food additive E number E904. Shellac is an odour and stain blocker and so is often used as the base of "all-purpose" primers. Although its durability against abrasives and many common solvents

1659-412: A tough natural primer , sanding sealant , tannin -blocker, odour -blocker, stain , and high-gloss varnish . Shellac was once used in electrical applications as it possesses good insulation qualities and seals out moisture. Phonograph and 78 rpm gramophone records were made of shellac until they were gradually replaced by vinyl . By 1948 shellac was no longer used to make records. From

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1738-408: A tunnel-like tube as it traverses the branches of the tree. Though these tunnels are sometimes referred to as " cocoons ", they are not cocoons in the entomological sense. This insect is in the same superfamily as the insect from which cochineal is obtained. The insects suck the sap of the tree and excrete " sticklac " almost constantly. The least-coloured shellac is produced when the insects feed on

1817-404: A very light blonde ("platina") to a very dark brown ("garnet"), with many varieties of brown, yellow, orange and red in between. The colour is influenced by the sap of the tree the lac bug is living on and by the time of harvest. Historically, the most commonly sold shellac is called "orange shellac", and was used extensively as a combination stain and protectant for wood panelling and cabinetry in

1896-436: A wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet . Cabinets are typically made of wood (solid or with veneers or artificial surfaces), coated steel (common for medicine cabinets), or synthetic materials. Commercial grade cabinets usually have a melamine-particleboard substrate and are covered in a high-pressure decorative laminate commonly referred to as Wilsonart or Formica. Cabinets sometimes have one or more doors on

1975-470: A width of 12", and be as large as 42". Sizing increments for both wall and base cabinets are a standard of 3". Cabinet boxes produced for kitchens are typically made of wood derivatives such as MDF , plywood , or particle board . The cabinet box will most often have a wood veneer to finish the interior. Cabinet door and drawer face material will depend on the manufacturer. Often a natural wood such as maple, oak, ash, birch, cherry, or alder will be used as

2054-622: Is sealing wax . The widespread use of shellac seals in Europe dates back to the 17th century , thanks to the increasing trade with India. In the early- and mid-twentieth century, orange shellac was used as a one-product finish (combination stain and varnish-like topcoat) on decorative wood panelling used on walls and ceilings in homes, particularly in the US. In the American South , use of knotty pine plank panelling covered with orange shellac

2133-459: Is a cognate of the Greek ῥητίνη rhētínē "resin of the pine", of unknown earlier origin, though probably non- Indo-European . The word "resin" has been applied in the modern world to nearly any component of a liquid that will set into a hard lacquer or enamel -like finish. An example is nail polish. Certain "casting resins" and synthetic resins (such as epoxy resin ) have also been given

2212-439: Is a resin converted to epoxy glue upon the addition of a hardener. Silicones are often prepared from silicone resins via room temperature vulcanization . Alkyd resins are used in paints and varnishes and harden or cure by exposure to oxygen in the air. Cabinetry A cabinet is a case or cupboard with shelves or drawers for storing or displaying items. Some cabinets are stand alone while others are built in to

2291-432: Is called a dresser or a chest of drawers . A small bedside cabinet is more frequently called a nightstand or night table . A tall cabinet intended for clothing storage including hanging of clothes is called a wardrobe or an armoire , or (in some countries) a closet if built-in. Before the advent of industrial design , cabinet makers were responsible for the conception and the production of any piece of furniture. In

2370-606: Is known as " Boulle work " and the École Boulle , a college of fine arts and crafts and applied arts in Paris, today bears testimony to his art. With the Industrial Revolution and the application of steam power to cabinet making tools, mass production techniques were gradually applied to nearly all aspects of cabinet making, and the traditional cabinet shop ceased to be the main source of furniture, domestic or commercial. In parallel to this evolution there came

2449-532: Is not very good, shellac provides an excellent barrier against water vapour penetration. Shellac-based primers are an effective sealant to control odours associated with fire damage. Shellac has traditionally been used as a dye for cotton and, especially, silk cloth in Thailand, particularly in the north-eastern region. It yields a range of warm colours from pale yellow through to dark orange-reds and dark ochre. Naturally dyed silk cloth, including that using shellac,

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2528-400: Is now commonly sold as "sanding sealer" by several companies. It is used to seal wooden surfaces, often as preparation for a final more durable finish; it reduces the amount of final coating required by reducing its absorption into the wood. Shellac is a natural bioadhesive polymer and is chemically similar to synthetic polymers. It can thus be considered a natural form of plastic . With

2607-493: Is often visible on the outside of the pieces and made of black iron. It is a style that became popular in the early 20th century; popularised by designers in the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveaux movements. Also known as Asian design , this style of furniture is characterised by its use of materials such as bamboo and rattan . Red is a frequent colour choice along with landscape art and Chinese or other Asian language characters on

2686-423: Is placed in canvas tubes (much like long socks) and heated over a fire. This causes the shellac to liquefy, and it seeps out of the canvas, leaving the bark and bugs behind. The thick, sticky shellac is then dried into a flat sheet and broken into flakes, or dried into "buttons" (pucks/cakes), then bagged and sold. The end-user then crushes it into a fine powder and mixes it with ethyl alcohol before use, to dissolve

2765-444: Is the lazy susan , a shelf which rotates around a central axis, allowing items stored at the back of the cabinet to be brought to the front by rotating the shelf. These are usually used in corner cabinets, which are larger and deeper and have a greater "dead space" at the back than other cabinets. An alternative to the lazy susan , particularly in base cabinets, is the blind corner cabinet pull out unit. These pull out and turn, making

2844-402: Is the cabinet door. In contrast, frameless cabinet have no such supporting front face frame, the cabinet doors attach directly to the sides of the cabinet box. The box's side, bottom and top panels are usually 5 ⁄ 8 to 3 ⁄ 4 inch (15 to 20 mm) thick, with the door overlaying all but 1 ⁄ 16 inch (2 mm) of the box edge. Modern cabinetry is often frameless and

2923-402: Is the combination of lighter neutral tones with intense, sharp dark shades such as black, navy blue and jewel tones. The main features of glamour in cabinetry are: This style of design is typified by clean horizontal and vertical lines. Compared to other designs there is a distinct absence of ornamentation. While Scandinavian design is easy to identify, it is much more about the materials than

3002-482: Is typically constructed from man-made sheet materials, such as plywood , chipboard or medium-density fibreboard (MDF). The visible surfaces of these materials are usually clad in a timber veneer , plastic laminate, or other material. They may also be painted. Cabinetry, fundamental usage, ergonomics, and construction of cabinetry found in the kitchen varies geographically. In the United States, cabinetry in

3081-700: Is used by honey bees to seal small gaps in their hives, while larger gaps are filled with beeswax. Shellac is an example of an insect-derived resin. Asphaltite and Utah resin are petroleum bitumens . Human use of plant resins has a very long history that was documented in ancient Greece by Theophrastus , in ancient Rome by Pliny the Elder , and especially in the resins known as frankincense and myrrh , prized in ancient Egypt . These were highly prized substances, and required as incense in some religious rites. The word resin comes from French resine , from Latin resina "resin", which either derives from or

3160-490: Is used: Resin Resins protect plants from insects and pathogens, and are secreted in response to injury. Resins confound a wide range of herbivores, insects, and pathogens, while the volatile phenolic compounds may attract benefactors such as predators of insects that attack the plant. Most plant resins are composed of terpenes . Specific components are alpha-pinene , beta-pinene , delta-3 carene , and sabinene ,

3239-505: Is widely available in the rural northeast, especially in Ban Khwao District , Chaiyaphum province . The Thai name for the insect and the substance is "khrang" (Thai: ครั่ง). Wood finishing is one of the most traditional and still popular uses of shellac mixed with solvents or alcohol. This dissolved shellac liquid, applied to a piece of wood, is an evaporative finish: the alcohol of the shellac mixture evaporates, leaving behind

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3318-614: The Aleppo Pine is used to flavour retsina , a Greek resinated wine . While animal resins are not as common as either plant or synthetic resins some animal resins like lac (obtained from Kerria lacca ) are used for applications like sealing wax in India , and lacquerware in Sri Lanka . Many materials are produced via the conversion of synthetic resins to solids. Important examples are bisphenol A diglycidyl ether , which

3397-663: The NKBA , the height from the counter top surface to the bottom of the upper cabinets should be no less than 15" in clearance. Wall cabinets are manufactured in a variety of heights based on the storage needs and allowable height within the specific kitchen. Common overall heights for wall cabinets are 30", 36" and 42". 30" and 36" is often used with North American ceiling heights of 8' or less. 42" heights are often used with 9' ceilings. These options are typically design based. Cabinet widths for base cabinets normally start at 9", and can be as large as 45". Wall cabinets will typically start at

3476-668: The United Kingdom in the middle of the 19th century spurred a market for traditional cabinet making, and other craft goods. It rapidly spread to the United States and to all the countries in the British Empire . This movement exemplified the reaction to the eclectic historicism of the Victorian era and to the 'soulless' machine-made production which was starting to become widespread. During this time, cabinetry

3555-427: The 20th century. Shellac was once very common anywhere paints or varnishes were sold (such as hardware stores). However, cheaper and more abrasion- and chemical-resistant finishes, such as polyurethane , have almost completely replaced it in decorative residential wood finishing such as hardwood floors, wooden wainscoting plank panelling, and kitchen cabinets. These alternative products, however, must be applied over

3634-478: The European cabinet system which offers several advantages. First off, in making base cabinets for kitchens, the cabinet sides would be cut to 34½ inches, yielding four cabinet side blanks per 4 foot by 8 foot sheet. Using the adjustable feet, the side blanks are cut to 30 inches, thus yielding six cabinet side per sheet. These feet can be secured to the bottom of the cabinet by having the leg base screwed onto

3713-447: The amount (in pounds) of shellac flakes dissolved in a gallon of denatured alcohol. For example: a 1-lb. cut of shellac is the strength obtained by dissolving one pound of shellac flakes in a gallon of alcohol (equivalent to 120 grams per litre). Most pre-mixed commercial preparations come at a 3-lb. cut. Multiple thin layers of shellac produce a significantly better end result than a few thick layers. Thick layers of shellac do not adhere to

3792-446: The appearance more acceptable for residential cabinets. Using these feet, the cabinets need not be shimmed or scribed to the floor for leveling. The toe kick board is attached to the cabinet by means of a clip, which is either screwed onto the back side of the kick board, or a barbed plastic clip is inserted into a saw kerf, also made on the back side of the kick board. This toe kick board can be made to fit each base cabinet, or made to fit

3871-403: The attached shelving unit slide into the open area of the cabinet door, thus making the shelves accessible to the user. These units make usable what was once dead space. Other insert hardware includes such items as mixer shelves that pull out of a base cabinet and spring into a locked position at counter height. This hardware aids in lifting these somewhat heavy mixers and assists with positioning

3950-428: The cabinet bottom. They can also be attached by means of a hole drilled through the cabinet bottom at specific locations. The legs are then attached to the cabinet bottom by a slotted, hollow machine screw. The height of the cabinet can be adjusted from inside the cabinet, simply by inserting a screwdriver into the slot and turning to raise or lower the cabinet. The holes in the cabinet are capped by plastic inserts, making

4029-626: The cabinet maker is the production of cabinetry. Although the cabinet maker may also be required to produce items that would not be recognized as cabinets, the same skills and techniques apply. A cabinet may be built-in or free-standing. A built-in cabinet is usually custom made for a particular situation and it is fixed into position, on a floor, against a wall, or framed in an opening. For example, modern kitchens are examples of built-in cabinetry. Free-standing cabinets are more commonly available as off-the-shelf items and can be moved from place to place if required. Cabinets may be wall hung or suspended from

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4108-614: The case of pine). The earliest written evidence of shellac goes back 3,000 years, but shellac is known to have been used earlier. According to the ancient Indian epic poem, the Mahabharata , an entire palace was built out of dried shellac. Shellac was uncommonly used as a dyestuff for as long as there was a trade with the East Indies . According to Merrifield, shellac was first used as a binding agent in artist's pigments in Spain in

4187-412: The ceiling. Cabinet doors may be hinged or sliding and may have mirrors on the inner or outer surface. Cabinets may have a face frame or may be of frameless construction (also known as European or euro-style ). Face frame cabinets have a supporting frame attached to the front of the cabinet box. This face frame is usually 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches (4 cm) in width. Mounted on the cabinet frame

4266-562: The design. This style of design is ornate. French Provincial objects are often stained or painted, leaving the wood concealed. Corners and bevels are often decorated with gold leaf or given some other kind of gilding. Flat surfaces often have artwork such as landscapes painted directly on them. The wood used in French provincial varied, but was often originally beech. This design emphasises both form and materials. Early American chairs and tables are often constructed with turned spindles and chair backs often constructed using steaming to bend

4345-434: The family Dipterocarpaceae , dragon's blood from the dragon trees ( Dracaena species), elemi , frankincense from Boswellia sacra , galbanum from Ferula gummosa , gum guaiacum from the lignum vitae trees of the genus Guaiacum , kauri gum from trees of Agathis australis , hashish (Cannabis resin) from Cannabis indica , labdanum from mediterranean species of Cistus , mastic (plant resin) from

4424-439: The flakes and make liquid shellac. Liquid shellac has a limited shelf life (about 1 year), so is sold in dry form for dissolution before use. Liquid shellac sold in hardware stores is often marked with the production (mixing) date, so the consumer can know whether the shellac inside is still good. Some manufacturers (e.g., Zinsser) have ceased labeling shellac with the production date, but the production date may be discernible from

4503-460: The front, which are mounted with door hardware , and occasionally a lock . Cabinets may have one or more doors, drawers , or shelves . Short cabinets often have a finished surface on top that can be used for display, or as a working surface, such as the countertops found in kitchens. A cabinet intended to be used in a bedroom and with several drawers typically placed one above another in one or more columns intended for clothing and small articles

4582-497: The kitchen typically consists of upper, or wall cabinets, and base cabinets. Regarding cabinets produced by cabinet manufacturers, base cabinets are sized at a standard 24" deep, front to back, and wall cabinets are typically constructed at a depth of 12" front to back. Standard height of a base cabinet is amongst manufactures is 34.5". According to design guidelines of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, known as

4661-500: The kusum tree ( Schleichera ). The number of lac bugs required to produce 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of shellac has variously been estimated between 50,000 and 300,000. The root word lakh is a unit in the Indian numbering system for 100,000 and presumably refers to the huge numbers of insects that swarm on host trees, up to 150 per square inch (23/cm). The raw shellac, which contains bark shavings and lac bugs removed during scraping,

4740-456: The last half of the 18th century, cabinet makers, such as Thomas Sheraton , Thomas Chippendale , Shaver and Wormley Brothers Cabinet Constructors, and George Hepplewhite , also published books of furniture forms. These books were compendiums of their designs and those of other cabinet makers . The most famous cabinetmaker before the advent of industrial design is probably André-Charles Boulle (11 November 1642 – 29 February 1732) and his legacy

4819-530: The mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus , myrrh from shrubs of Commiphora , sandarac resin from Tetraclinis articulata , the national tree of Malta, styrax (a Benzoin resin from various Styrax species) and spinifex resin from Australian grasses. Amber is fossil resin (also called resinite) from coniferous and other tree species. Copal, kauri gum, dammar and other resins may also be found as subfossil deposits. Subfossil copal can be distinguished from genuine fossil amber because it becomes tacky when

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4898-454: The middle of the cabinet. A cabinet usually has at least one compartment. Compartments may be open, as in open shelving; they may be enclosed by one or more doors; or they may contain one or more drawers. Some cabinets contain secret compartments , access to which is generally not obvious. Modern cabinets employ many more complicated means (relative to a simple shelf) of making browsing lower cabinets more efficient and comfortable. One example

4977-503: The monocyclic terpenes limonene and terpinolene , and smaller amounts of the tricyclic sesquiterpenes , longifolene , caryophyllene , and delta-cadinene . Some resins also contain a high proportion of resin acids . Rosins on the other hand are less volatile and consist of diterpenes among other compounds. Examples of plant resins include amber , Balm of Gilead , balsam , Canada balsam , copal from trees of Protium copal and Hymenaea courbaril , dammar gum from trees of

5056-688: The name "resin". Some naturally-derived resins, when soft, are known as 'oleoresins', and when containing benzoic acid or cinnamic acid they are called balsams. Oleoresins are naturally-occurring mixtures of an oil and a resin; they can be extracted from various plants. Other resinous products in their natural condition are a mix with gum or mucilaginous substances and known as gum resins . Several natural resins are used as ingredients in perfumes, e.g., balsams of Peru and tolu, elemi, styrax, and certain turpentines. Other liquid compounds found inside plants or exuded by plants, such as sap , latex , or mucilage , are sometimes confused with resin but are not

5135-425: The pieces. Shaker furniture design is focused on function and symmetry. Because it is so influenced by an egalitarian religious community and tradition it is rooted in the needs of the community versus the creative expression of the designer. Like Early American and Colonial design, Shaker craftsmen often chose fruit woods for their designs. Pieces reflect a very efficient use of materials. The fundamental focus of

5214-404: The production lot code. Alternatively, old shellac may be tested to see if it is still usable: a few drops on glass should dry to a hard surface in roughly 15 minutes. Shellac that remains tacky for a long time is no longer usable. Storage life depends on peak temperature, so refrigeration extends shelf life. The thickness (concentration) of shellac is measured by the unit "pound cut", referring to

5293-741: The resin acids are regenerated upon treatment with acids. Examples of resin acids are abietic acid (sylvic acid), C 20 H 30 O 2 , plicatic acid contained in cedar, and pimaric acid , C 20 H 30 O 2 , a constituent of galipot resin. Abietic acid can also be extracted from rosin by means of hot alcohol. Rosin is obtained from pines and some other plants , mostly conifers . Plant resins are generally produced as stem secretions, but in some Central and South American species of Dalechampia and Clusia they are produced as pollination rewards, and used by some stingless bee species in nest construction. Propolis , consisting largely of resins collected from plants such as poplars and conifers ,

5372-482: The same. Saps, in particular, serve a nutritive function that resins do not. Plant resins are valued for the production of varnishes , adhesives , and food glazing agents . They are also prized as raw materials for the synthesis of other organic compounds and provide constituents of incense and perfume . The oldest known use of plant resin comes from the late Middle Stone Age in Southern Africa where it

5451-422: The substrate or to each other well, and thus can peel off with relative ease; in addition, thick shellac will obscure fine details in carved designs in wood and other substrates. Shellac naturally dries to a high-gloss sheen. For applications where a flatter (less shiny) sheen is desired, products containing amorphous silica, such as "Shellac Flat", may be added to the dissolved shellac. Shellac naturally contains

5530-435: The time shellac replaced oil and wax finishes in the 19th century, it was one of the dominant wood finishes in the western world until it was largely replaced by nitrocellulose lacquer in the 1920s and 1930s. Besides wood finishing, shellac is used as an ingredient in food, medication and candy such as confectioner's glaze , as well as a means of preserving harvested citrus fruit . Shellac comes from shell and lac ,

5609-504: The traditional techniques, and many dancers use shellac to revive a softening pair of shoes. Shellac was historically used as a protective coating on paintings. Sheets of Braille were coated with shellac to help protect them from wear due to being read by hand. Shellac was used from the mid-nineteenth century to produce small moulded goods such as picture frames , boxes , toilet articles, jewelry , inkwells and even dentures . Advances in plastics have rendered shellac obsolete as

5688-497: The windings to the rotor or armature . In more recent times, shellac has been replaced in these applications by synthetic resins such as polyester resin . Some applications use shellac mixed with other natural or synthetic resins, such as pine resin or phenol- formaldehyde resin, of which Bakelite is the best known, for electrical use. Mixed with other resins, barium sulfate , calcium carbonate , zinc sulfide , aluminium oxide and/or cuprous carbonate ( malachite ), shellac forms

5767-417: The wood. Wood choices tend to be deciduous hardwoods with a particular emphasis on the wood of edible or fruit-bearing trees such as cherry or walnut. The rustic style of design sometimes called " log furniture " or " log cabin " is the least finished. Design is very utilitarian yet seeks to feature not only the materials used but in, as much as possible, how they existed in their natural state. For example,

5846-455: The year 1220. The use of overall paint or varnish decoration on large pieces of furniture was first popularised in Venice (then later throughout Italy). There are a number of 13th-century references to painted or varnished cassone , often dowry cassone that were made deliberately impressive as part of dynastic marriages. The definition of varnish is not always clear, but it seems to have been

5925-408: Was once as common in new construction as drywall is today. It was also often used on kitchen cabinets and hardwood floors, prior to the advent of polyurethane . Until the advent of vinyl , most gramophone records were pressed from shellac compounds. From 1921 to 1928, 18,000 tons of shellac were used to create 260 million records for Europe. In the 1930s, it was estimated that half of all shellac

6004-540: Was said to be one of the most noble and admirable skills by nearly one fourth of the population of the United Kingdom, and 31% of those who believed this strived for their children to learn the art of cabinetry. After World War II woodworking became a popular hobby among the middle classes. The more serious and skilled amateurs in this field now turn out pieces of furniture which rival the work of professional cabinet makers. Together, their work now represents but

6083-460: Was used as an adhesive for hafting stone tools. The hard transparent resins, such as the copals, dammars , mastic , and sandarac , are principally used for varnishes and adhesives, while the softer odoriferous oleo-resins ( frankincense , elemi , turpentine , copaiba ), and gum resins containing essential oils ( ammoniacum , asafoetida , gamboge , myrrh , and scammony ) are more used for therapeutic purposes, food and incense . The resin of

6162-435: Was used for gramophone records . Use of shellac for records was common until the 1950s and continued into the 1970s in some non-Western countries, as well as for some children's records. Until recent advances in technology, shellac ( French polish ) was the only glue used in the making of ballet dancers' pointe shoes , to stiffen the box (toe area) to support the dancer en pointe. Many manufacturers of pointe shoes still use

6241-543: Was used for fixing inductor , motor , generator and transformer windings. It was applied directly to single-layer windings in an alcohol solution. For multi-layer windings, the whole coil was submerged in shellac solution, then drained and placed in a warm location to allow the alcohol to evaporate. The shellac locked the wire turns in place, provided extra insulation, prevented movement and vibration and reduced buzz and hum. In motors and generators it also helps transfer force generated by magnetic attraction and repulsion from

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