SHELLAC
Shellac is a secretion of the Asian cochineal. This material has the characteristic of becoming soft when heated and hardening at room temperature. It is for this property that shellac is often used.
Shellac was already used in the 18th century and is still used in the 21st century to hold the rubies of pallets. It is a material that has survived the ages without being replaced by other materials, which is rather unique.
Shellac is used in watchmaking to hold rubies of the pallets in place. Its ability to be reversed by changing its temperature is particularly appreciated for the escapement-making. Shellac is also regularly used to hold certain tools in their handles. This is sometimes the case with hand chisels or certain small files. Shellac is also sometimes used to hold a component on a support during manufacturing.
Avantages: It is 100% natural. The relatively low temperature at which it softens (around 100 degrees Celsius) is appreciated because it does not change the structure of metals such as steel, which could be the case at around 200 degrees Celsius.
Inconvénients: No known disadvantages.