Antique Restoration
Trevor Hinton
Services & Skills
Country
furniture & Folk Art
Polishing, Waxing & Oiling - Antique Restoration
What is French polishing?
French polish is actually a shellac which has been dissolved in alcohol. The polish is applied on a pad of wadding to which a small amount of oil is added. The type of oil added changes the effect of the finish. A tougher oil will produce a long lasting finish, whereas a lighter oil will produce a more glossy, but less durable finish.
French polishing is time consuming and hard work! The rubbing of the piece is very repetitive and it takes many applications to achieve the best results, but done well, the results can be stunning.
How I use polishing and waxing techniques
• If it is impossible to save a finish by just reviving and waxing,
the piece can be gently stripped using various methods and then either
French polished, shellacked or oiled in the old fashioned way..cut back
with wire wool I try to avoid stripping totally as I do not like the “new
look” this gives.
• Surface polish can also be revived and brought back by using a
hard wax finish in place of French polishing.
• I try avoid stripping off too much of the old surface. While this is
usually quicker, it can result in a ruined piece.
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