DIY cast shellac pickguard?

[Charlie H 72]

ok this is a test-I read that Bakelite was invented as an alternative to shellac-so it gave me an idea to try to make a pickguard by casting shellac. Also the marble/tortoise pickguard sheets available are expensive and not quite to my liking.
 

So I poured some cheapo Zinnser shellac into a yogurt lid to a ~1/8” depth, marbled 2 colors together a little bit, and now we’re waiting for it to dry. Who knows what’s gonna happen.. has anybody done this? Would love to hear.

oh yes and I made a mess.. just pretend it’s not there. anyway a little more finish on my workbench can’t hurt

 

[Invader Zim]

Do it in layers to gain depth and complexity. Shellac cross links with itself.

[Charlie H 72]

Probably a good idea as this is not even close to dry! Although the stuff around the outside edges where I spilled a little and in the mixing container is super brittle-this is not likely to work well once it does finally dry. I read that old shellac records had all kinds of mineral filler to compensate for this.  
 

I saw a tdpri thread linked to an old PG thread where somebody did their own guards & other components out of epoxy. Worth a look!  https://www.tdpri.com/threads/epic-knobs-for-andy-brainy.655962/page-32

[Charlie H 72]

Ok this is from test 2-I am now the proud owner of a tiny gummy flimsy brown rectangle-but it may be a start.

I mixed in a little corn starch as filler, and I poured a thinner layer. It still took 2 days to get to this level of dryness at 1/16” thick or less. I think the issue is that shellac is an aerobic cure and pouring it so thick means that there is a great deal of shellac not receiving any oxygen. So next I will try many micro layers and see where I get. 

I think there is still drying to do. It’s about as flexible as a sheet of rubber and feels gummy but it did cut with an exact and it did come out of the mold just fine. 

 

 

I also tried pulling out some of test one but it’s still a gummy mess. It may never dry

Edited March 9, 2021 by Charlie H 72

[FINEFUZZ]

I bet mixing in some powdered (white) fiberglass would give it rigidity and a little sparkle.  I don't know if you can buy it or you have to make it.  The stuff I had looked like snow, it was cut pretty fine.