user27606

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chemmy

Buy my book!!! LOL well... at least when it's done lol.

Actually "French' polishing is a misnomer the French don't call it that, lol. It is really called "friction polishing" with good reason, at the end after the bodying is completed, you use quite a bit of hand pressure on the pad/rubber/tampon/etc., to soften the shellac up somewhat to bring up the final glass shine it produces. Some call it stretching the lac, i prefer to call it burnishing.

The technique is simple and uncomplicated though there are many cultural ways it is done across the planet, but mainly in Europe. The Germans have thier methods as do the English, Spanish, Scandanavians, Indians, Asians,etc..

The first mention i know of in trade publication is from the French dictionare' Technologique, which has the formula spelled out, since it was published in the mid 1700's i will take that as being sufficient as to its original use til i run across something different or earlier.

My grandfather was full French my dad half and they are who taught me, though they personally did not use the formula that i speak of. having tried that i can see why.

sorry but i have to run out but will be back in an hour or so its 9 pm here ok?

user27606

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chemmy

You know someone posted a video on here about shellac and where it came from and how manufactured into the finished product we use, on that iste he also as i found out had a video on how to french polish there were also many others, with his though i was interested only because when i purchased the video it was very close [outside of how we filled the grain] to what i had learned, i will find the site and post it ok? THEN!!!!!!! you can get back to me and we will discuss the changes that need to be made, lol

http://shop.shellacfinishes.biz/Fren...-video-DVD.htm

Give it a shot, most of it is very useful, then i can guide you from there once the basics are down pretty good ok? It's hard to just write about it and have someone really understand, it needs to be seen and then practiced, Vijay does a good job on the basics except for the filling part.

user27606

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chemmy

No it would not be good for that. its tough but not that tough, most coatings even polyester can be scratched with a buckle lol, but i do have a remedy for that.................. DONT WEAR A BUCKLE!!!

user27606

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Corbin3388

OMG French polish is a pain. Depends on species but woods that take a high polish like ebony and cocobolo there is nothing better.

Sent from my iPhone using Wood Forum

chemmy

LOL, again no, Think of Friction polishing and shellac as a good finish but more delicate than say polyurethane or even good hard alkyd finishes - it is very good with very good properties as you will see in the video, It can be used most anywhere, bathrooms, kitchens, furniture. DR table tops, but it is succeptable to a few things in general, heat [above 150] long durations of wetness, or alcohol. In other words it is high maintenance compared to many others. good points excellent gloss,adhesion, distinction of image/refractive index, ease of application, best coating for stopping bleeding color or resinous pine sap, and the easiest of any finishing coatings to repair.

user27606

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chemmy

HMMM.............. beg to differ, no matter what wood your polishing be it poplar or any other, if the wood is prepared properly, it or i can make it look like glass. Think of the most open pored skankyest wood that exist, and i will make it look like a kings ransom.

chemmy

I posted the link back a few just click it ok?

http://shop.shellacfinishes.biz/Fren...-video-DVD.htm

any alcohol solveable resin can be used, back when, some were mastic, sandarac, gum anime, etc.., later on it was found that it was best just to use shellac once it became available in dewaxed form. but yes they are more maitanance than say lacquer if treated the same way as to daily use. It's not a majic bullet it is a high end finish used mostly on things that will not see daily "abuse" but can be easily fixed if it does.

user27606

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user27606

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chemmy

Hmmm..... your right, not to much difference, cotton ball, water, wax, lots of elbow, ooops, finger grease, different materials but very similiar, plus easy to repair most of the time also.

High gloss wax polishing with reeds and dull scraper followed with fine linen preceeded friction polish, you may have just answered my question of where the idea came from to try the polishing method with shellac, thnx. I will give that much thought.

That just might end up in my book, i will have to look at Roubo's writing on hard wax polishing again.

user27606

sorry.

chemmy

Well, roubo doesn't say what cloth he used for sure, but most likely linen, or other smooth cloth of the period. but my idea is this, in the hard wax process little to no heat from friction could build up which might loosen the inlay, thus a grass applyer and blunt scraper to apply, burnish, and uniformly smooth out before final gloss polishing would or could proceed. Beeswax being a softer wax could not be heated to any degree, BUT-- if a cold wet rag was used [which there are no details stating such] to keep the wax cold during the glossing process, it would make perfect sense that even a higher gloss than i have gotten so far could be acheived. That is or could be why even condervators have not been able to produce the high gloss either. Hmmm.... very interesting i will have to try it as soon as i can.

Beyond this, as to the friction polishing being similiar, again if he who first thought of it found that if a cold rag was used to burnish/polish the wax, what if he slowly fed cold water through wool or cotton which would keep a steady supply of coolness to the surface keeping it from even heating up less. thus - inner wool core+ outer linen wrap gives the basic pad elements used for later friction polishing. add the pumice filler, the lac and oil, and viiola!! the friction polish is born. ©



Copyright by (C.L.) SQP Feb. 22 2012.

chemmy

For what? frankly im indebted to you, my sincere thanks. and a free copy of my book if this proves out, with mention of where the idea came from giveing credit to you ok?

user27606

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chemmy

AHH.. your incorrect my dear watson, even though several drops of alcohol are added to the core of the pad when first vaping off the finish, the core and outer cloth run dry very soon, then there is nothing but a trace of oil and a little pumice that continue to smooth the shellac til you are satisfied with the shine. this requires alot of pressure on the polishers part both hands and lots of time. the begining alcohol is mainly used to pick up the last traces of oil from the surface. leaving only the pad and pumice to continue the polishing. Then there are a few more steps i personally take to bring up the liquid glass look afterwords. That, you wont find on the video lol.