A few years ago (not more than 3) I bought a 16 oz jar of Behlan's super blond shellac flakes. They sat on the shelf and I just got around to trying them. 75% of the jar sort of congealed into a solid mass but there were plenty of flakes left.
Following directions in this group, I mixed about 1 oz of the flakes in about 10 oz of denatured alcohol. I periodically stired it, shook it and set it in hot water for 2 days. While it looks like the flakes dissolved, if I hold it up to the light, I can see the texture of flakes in suspension.
Yesterday I borrowed(!) the coffee grinder and ground up about an ounce into powder and mixed it with 10 oz of alcohol. Same thing. If I hold it up to the light I can see the powder in suspension. If I leave it sit for a few hours, it becomes milky at the bottom and clear amber at the top.
My question is, is this normal? Does shellac need to be stirred into suspension for each use? Or should shellac mix down to a clear mixture?
I live in a dry climate and didn't expect to find the flakes congealed.