Hand Polishing

Hand Polishing

French Polish Wood Furniture: Pros and Cons

French polishing has always had a certain romance about it.  Antique dealers speak of French polishing as if it represents the pinnacle of finishing mastery.  Ive been told by more than one antique dealer that the secrets of French Polishing are held by a select few and that it is a difficult skill to master.

Finishers who are skilled in French Polishing find these statements amusing.  The truth is that French Polishing can be learned in a few hours with supplies available at any hardware store.  Plus, once an understanding of French Polishing is acquired, the student will discover why French Polishing was used in the first place and why it is no longer used to finish furniture.  Modern refinishers will tell you that French Polishing makes for a very beautiful but very bad finish.

French Polishing Fundamentals

French Polishing is a process used to apply a coat of liquid shellac (shellac mixed with alcohol) onto wood.  A ball of wool wrapped in closely-woven cotten or linen is used to apply the shellac.  Shellac is poured into the pad, absorbed by the wool, and squeezed out as the pad is moved across the surface of the wood.  The skill in French polishing is to apply the shellac evenly, leaving no pad marks.   Depth of finish is achieved by repeatedly applying thin coats of shellac.  The wood grain can be filled by sprinkling pumice onto the wood's surface prior to applying a coat of shellac.  It is helpful to apply a little mineral spirits to the pad to keep it lubricated and help keep the finish smooth.

Wouldn't It Be Easier To Use a Brush?

If you've ever painted your house, you know that brushes leave brush marks.  Even today, modern spray and application systems will leave an uneven surface.   Brushes and sprayers distort the liquid finish; after application, the surface must be leveled.  Modern finishes can be levelled and polished using abrasives and sandpaper.The result of the abrasive rubbing process is called a hand-rubbed finish.   Sandpaper fine enough and consistent enough to achieve a hand-rubbed finish was not available until the late 19th century.  Three hundred years ago, French polishing was the only way to get a beautiful finish onto a piece of furniture.

Why French Polishing Is No Longer In General Use

French Polish finishes are very beautiful but not very durable.  Shellac scuffs easily, and is sensitive to heat, cold, and moisture.  Most of the old wives tales about never placing drinking glasses on furniture were developed over hundreds of years of dealing with shellac finishes.  If one prefers the look of a shellac finish, there are better ways than French polishing to apply shellac.  French Polishing takes a long, long, time to build up significant layers of finish.  Allowing for dry time between coats, one could spend an entire day French Polishing the top of the average sized coffee table.  Brushing or spraying on the shellac and then hand rubbing the same surface the job could be completed in about two hours.

Its Not Even French

The romance of French polishing will likely remain, especially in the antiques trade.  After all, anything French is considered to be artsy-craftsy.  I dont have the heart to tell antique dealers that French polishing isnt even French; it was developed by the Chinese about 7,000 years ago.

About the Author

Wayne Jordan has been a restorer of pianos and antique furniture for over 30 years. His restoration work can be found in the VMI Museum, the Maryland Governor's Mansion, and fine homes throughout the Mid Atlantic states.  He is a Certified Personal Property Appraiser and Auctioneer.  Visit his website at http://www.waynejordanauctions.com and his blog at http://www.wayne-jordan.blogspot.com

The World Market for Hand Sharpening or Polishing Stones $325 This report was created for strategic planners, international executives and import/export managers who are concerned with the market for hand sharpening or polishing stones. With the globalization of this market, managers can no longer be contented with a local view. Nor can managers be contented with out-of-date statistics that appear several years after the fact. I have developed a methodology, based on macroeconomic and trade models, to estimate the market for hand sharpening or polishing stones for those countries serving the world market via exports or supplying from various countries via imports. I do so for the current year based on a variety of key historical indicators and econometric models.

P21S Polishing Soap $10.95 P21S announces the end of tedious polishing.  The wheel you see here was purchased from a scrap dealer.  We polished of of the wheel in less than a minute... by hand!  The secret is this unique scrap-like cake that's water-based.  Just take the enclosed sponge, wet it and drag it across the soap.  Squeeze to create lather and gently scrub.  In seconds a brilliant shine appears.  Now rinse with water and you're done.   No struggling with a greasy paste with 2 fingers, no black grime under the fingernails and no oily rags to deal with afterward.  And you're polishing at ten times the speed with a fraction of the effort! Great on exhaust pipes, bumpers, gas tanks, running boards, diamond plate, or anywhere else you would use metal polish.  Dozens of uses around the home such as stainless, aluminum and copper pans, glass cook tops, etc.  Biodegradable and non-toxic too!  300 gram (10.6 oz) tub with sponge - Part No. 15300P     Applications: Before After

Finish Shine Polishing Gloss $28.99 Women's 50ml/1.7oz . A silicone based ultra shine drops that polish any style immediately Creates lustrous healthy looking hair brilliance with just a drop 100% vegan free of oil fragrance & preservatives To use: After styling apply a drop into the palm of your hand. Rub throughout hair. Let dry

Turtle Wax Premium Grade Polishing Compound $7.99 The Turtle Wax Premium Grade Polishing Compound with Nanotechnology polishing agents is a fine cut compound designed to remove light swirl marks, minor scratches and light oxidation while restoring color, gloss and shine to your car, truck, van or SUV finish. The polishing compound is formulated with professional grade, Nanotechnology polishing agents and lubricating oils to produce flawless clarity and creating a showroom shine to any vehicle finish. The Turtle Wax Premium Grade Polishing Compound is silicone free and is safe for use on all clear coat and conventional finishes. Features: Creates A Smooth and Slick Flawless Surface Shine On Your Car. Easily Removes Light Scratches, Light Swirl Marks, Surface Blemishes & Oxidation. Silicone Free Formula Is Safe For Use In Professional Paint & Body Shops. Can Be Applied By Hand or with An Orbital or Rotary Polisher. Safe and Will Not Cause Further Damage To Finish. Contains 18 fl. oz.

Sword Polishing $10 Sword Polishing

Glastar G-15 Bevel Star Grinding And Polishing System $774.95 Create, repair and hand bevel glass projects yourself simply and easily with the Bevel Star System. A complete, multi-functional beveling station designed for grinding and polishing straight edges and outside curves. Bevel Star comes with all the features you want. Direct water hook-up, with adjustable waterspout makes it easy to put water flow to any area of the grinding disc. Our splash guard controls overspray. The flush mount system allows you to use the entire 6 diamond grinding surface. And changing between grinding and polishing pads is quick and easy. Available in 220/240 Voltage Product is also available in 220/240V for our international customers. Click Here for pricing and information.

Polishing fixture $113.99 Black Box - Polishing fixture

Polishing tool $449.99 Black Box - Polishing tool

Polishing pad $35.99 Black Box - Polishing pad

Polishing Gemstones $49.99 Polishing Gemstones - Giclee Print

Lens Polishing $24.99 Lens Polishing - Photographic Print

Universal Buffing & Polishing Pad Washer $134.95 One of the biggest problems with buffing pads today lies in their backing pad and its likeliness to tear off of the pad. The major cause of this failure is from hand washing your buffing pads. When you hand wash pads, the backing pad gets wet and over saturates the foam. The Universal Pad Washer keeps the backing pads dry and extends the life of your buffing pads. No more throwing away perfectly good pads because the backing pad has torn off. If you've ever used a brand new wool pad, you can appreciate the convenience of a tool that conditions the pads. By conditioning your new wool pads, you extract the loose fibers from the pad, keeping your paint free of excess wool fibers. The Universal Pad Washer cleans and dries your buffing pads in under 30 seconds. With the Universal Pad Washer, you'll always have a clean buffing pad, no matter where you are!     Features: Conditions, cleans and dries, any type of pad, on any buffer or polisher Will not tear up or damage pads, even the most delicate cross-cut foam Gamma Seal Lid provides water-tight portability to any jobsite   Instructions: As easy as 1 2 3. The Universal Pad Washer cleaned this pad in 7 seconds. Before being cleaned, this pad was loaded with bonded contaminants and buffing compound, rendering it useless.    Demonstrational Video:

Stainless Steel Polishing Glove in Blue by Evriholder Products $4.99 This Sofie EcoMicro Stainless Steel Polishing Glove by Evriholder Products fits comfortably on the hand and is perfect for stainless steel. Microfiber is a superior cleaning material. Each synthetic fiber acts as if it is magnetically charged to attract negatively charged dust particles. Dust, dirt, and lint cling to the loops and lift off from any surface. Use the Sofie to dust all of your stainless steel appliances, sinks, countertops, decor, etc. Used dry, it is a dust magnet. With a little cleaner, it also removes fingerprints and smudges. There is no need for detergents. Sofie is washing machine safe. It can be used over and over again with the same stunning results. Features: • Made of synthetic microfiber material • Attracts dust particles • Use dry or with a little cleaner • Use over and over again • Machine washable • Color: Blue

Polishing Wheel $79.99 Polishing Wheel - Premium Photographic Print

polishing paper $35.99 Black Box - Polishing paper (pack of 50 )

Fein WPO 14-25 E-PS Stainless Steel Polishing Set $919 Stainless Steel Polishing Set - WPO 14-25 E-PS. Angle Polisher - WPO 14-25 E. Handle. Extension Handle. Hand Guard. 4-in Arbor for Cylinders and Wheels. 5/8-in Arbor. Gum Wheel 60 Grit. Fleece Wheel 180 Grit. Sanding Fleece with Corrugated Folds. 10 Sanding Fleece, Fine. Backing Pad. 2 Wrenches. Metal Carrying Case

Glastar G151 Bevel Star Grinding And Polishing System - International Voltage $774.95 Create, repair and hand bevel glass projects yourself simply and easily with the Bevel Star System. A complete, multi-functional beveling station designed for grinding and polishing straight edges and outside curves. Bevel Star comes with all the features you want. Direct water hook-up, with adjustable waterspout makes it easy to put water flow to any area of the grinding disc. Our splash guard controls overspray. The flush mount system allows you to use the entire 6 diamond grinding surface. And changing between grinding and polishing pads is quick and easy. This tool is designed just for our international customers. This item uses international voltage of 220/240V, common in Europe and other parts of the world, but will not work with North American electrical outlets. For the standard American voltage product Click Here .

HiTech Industries HTHB3672 Mini Polishing Kit for Cordless Drills $34.37 Kit includes: 3 in. 4ply white wool pad for heavy cut compounding and buffing. 3 in. 4ply yellow wool blend pad for light/medium cut compounding. 3 in. orange euro foam pad for medium surface cleaning buffing and polishing. 3 in. black euro foam pad for liquid wax application and swirl/mark removal for a superhigh luster finish. Backing plate with hook and loop system for quick and secure pad attachment (fits full Size: polishers such as Dewalt). Adapter for 3/8 in. and 1/2 in. hand drills.

Ultra-Pure Extra-Large Microfiber Polishing Cloth $5.99 This cloth is a full 16-inches (40cm) square with a fully-finished edge to prevent fraying. Easily removes moisture, dust, oil, grease and fingerprints from your instrument. This cloth is soft, lint-free and hand-washable.

Fast Sword Polishing $10 Fast Sword Polishing

King Of The Hill - Hank Polishing $6 King Of The Hill - Hank Polishing

Leblanc Polishing Cloth $6.89 Leblanc Polishing Cloth

Glaesel Polishing Cloth $3 Glaesel Polishing Cloth

Woodwind Polishing Cloth Silver $3.49 Woodwind Polishing Cloth Silver

Woodwind Polishing Cloth Lacquer $3.49 Woodwind Polishing Cloth Lacquer

Giardinelli Lacquer Polishing Cloth $5.99 Giardinelli Lacquer Polishing Cloth

Jonathan Product Finish Shine Polishing Gloss 50ml/1.7oz $22.5 A silicone based ultra shine drops that polish any style immediately Creates lustrous healthy looking hair brilliance with just a drop 100% vegan free of oil fragrance & preservatives To use: After styling apply a drop into the palm of your hand. Rub throughout hair. Let dry

Finish Shine Polishing Gloss by Jonathan Product $28.99 A silicone based ultra shine drops that polish any style immediately Creates lustrous healthy looking hair brilliance with just a drop 100% vegan free of oil fragrance & preservatives To use: After styling apply a drop into the palm of your hand. Rub throughout hair. Let dry