French polishing an ancient art

A Non-instructional glimpse into the hard work involved when "French Polishing."

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Howto & Style

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• French
• polish
• antique
• art
• ptoone.com
• arts
• crafts
• home
• fashion

[madwani]

Such polishing is very common in Egypt and almost all furniture polishers are using this method.

Egyptian Furniture is really Awesome. I am sure it is in first place. Yes of course, their furniture style is an imitation to the English and French furniture. However, the Egyptians have defeated both English and French by their remarkable skill. French or Italian made.

Egyptians also do excellent Gilding

[ptoone101]

It is interesting to learn about the different techniques from around the world. The English first discovered 'Shellac' in India, the locals there would lay 'lac' (shellac) over a piece and leave it to melt evenly over the piece in the sun. Due to the lack of sun in this part of the world, we have adapted this labor intensive process over the past 300 hundred years. I would be interested to learn more about the technique in Egypt.

[jasonstillwater]

I also restore. French polishing is part of the skillset. What is the solution you use? How viscous, what are the ingredients, how do you fold the pad, how do you make sure there is no dust, what if you want to darken, then you sand, and in spots color disappears? I think some narration would be of value, if this video is, in fact, instructional.

[ptoone101]

Your questions seem very general in the sense I could give you many answers. I can say I was taught the English way of polishing and I find that many polishers develop their own technique. The video was not intended to teach people as it took me years to learn to French polish. I created the video to serve more as an educational video than a instructional one. The trade is slowly be phased out by modern methods and most young people have never heard of French polishing.

[fernando5821]

Brilliant work, mate! I do restorations as well, and it's great to see that I am not alone with my french polishing skills.

[ptoone101]

Thank you for your comment, it is the antique restorations that have kept French polishing alive, I haven't been able to produce a better finish not using French polishing.

[keilscave]

Welldone bud, Its good to see someone with your enthusiasm for wood finishing...10 out of 10...

[RealDogofGenius]

...the French & the Polish... hmmm... the two nations living under Englands tarnish and abrasive ways... to ruin our lives and disrespect the past... hmmm... tow halves... 1/2 + 1/2 = victory... history never forgets... and summons me... the same as lady death calls to arms... she must be obeyed... for she needs fresh blood... hmmm... lady death needs revenge... for she is the one who decides who lives or dies... and death is no escape... for she needs legions... loyal to her... and only her!

[lewisy09]

Im training to be a french polisher took ages to find a course been doing it for over a year now and i love it one thing tho i cannot wear the masks i cant stand em lacquer and primer are great to breathe in especially in a closed enviroment like a spray booth

[SensaiMan]

I have never seen a French polisher, polishing wearing a glove before.

Yes, for doing staining and wood stripping, but this is a first.

Nice finish.

[TheCanadianization]

Love it =)

[rodnisimo]

The finish looks briliant even with the poor video. Nice goin! Long live the craftsmen.

[Pianotec]

Agreed there is the "secret" if any !

the density of the rubber is also important, as a too loght wool will allow too much product to flow in, oblige to have a very light hand which is tiring.

[Pianotec]

The "original" Frecnh polish method (from France) involve using pumice to create the surface before applying the shellack, and not to sand between layers, (unless there are defects to correct , which are also filed with pumice using a linen cylindrical shaped tool.

The method on the video seem to be the english way to apply schellack. using a different kind of schellack, sometimes the wood have been impregnated with rabbit skin glue before è but I am not expert.

[jaydbaltimore]

I get this all the time. I feel I am not an artist, but a fine craftsman. Art is creativity (basically). Anyone can put some shellac on a wrag and hit it with a little alcohol.

I truly learned this on a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of mahogany plywood. Don't start learning on a piece you care about. You will put it on to thick.

Once you get it you will understand. It is a balance of shellac, oil (I use walnut), and Alcohol (I use Everclear).

Just remember less shellac is more better.

[fernando5821]

It does take a bit of time to develop the technique. When you start to stick and drag, it's time to stop the application for a while. My focus is antique restoration. I'll do three passes over a piece of furniture, and then let the shellac cure for several hours before the next application session. The trick to getting excellent results lies not so much in french polishing, but making sure the grain is properly filled. Grain filling is a phenomenal pain in the a-s-s.