Originally Posted by
ollo_ollo
Shiny but not hard. It still has a cushion feel but doesn't get dirty as fast & it seems to make the cork last longer. Over time it needs touched up, especially where cables run under the tape. Shellac is good for sprucing up old cork tape. Just clean the tape as much as possible, then put a few coats of amber shellac on. It will look much better. I have had bikes with shellac on cotton tape & I think it gives a better grip due to the hardened texture but I prefer cork tape. Don
I bet it soaks in shellac like a sponge. I'll have to break out the camera tomorrow. I have one bicycle with Velo Orange amber shellac over their yellow cloth tape. I have about 5 coats on it, and it is no less comfortable than cotton tape, but much more durable.
One thing to consider about touch-up. I applied my shellac outside in the winter, in a bit of a hurry - at night. It was cold, and the initial result was not what I anticipated, and uneven. In desperation, I broke out a high power hair dryer. Slowly, as the shellac heated, the finish came around. I mention this as something to consider when touch-up is necessary. 20 minutes with a hair dryer might save you the mess and hassle of touching up.