Originally Posted by
cavit8
Late response. No, don't use isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. You want denatured (methylated) alcohol which you can get at a paint store.
The number of coats will affect the colour so you can shoot for what you want which will depend on the shellac colour and the original tape colour; I'd say four minimum. The more coats the darker it will get.
Methyl alcohol will blind you (I think in moonshine it's what you get by accident when the wood in the still ferments), and is totally cool with passing through your skin, so, you know, throw on some latex when you handle that stuff.