Let the flakes soak overnight in the alcohol. Even if you have a magnetic stirring device or a paint shaker it takes time to know if your mix is any good. Patience.

When French polishing old furniture coats of shellac will be much less than 0.001”, dry time is near instant. When soaking cotton tape it might take a week to get completely dry. Possible to go ride the bike as long as your hands don’t stick even if you know it is not dry. Shellac will always dry. Dries out in the can.