Finishes
French Polish -
Probably one of the most misused terms in the wood finishing trade,
French polish and French polishing refers to a technique rather
than a specific material. Using this method many layers of finish
are applied using a rubber or fad made up of wadding folded up into a
piece of linen to create a pointed bag.
Generally, for restoration on antique or period
pieces the basic finish is composed of shellac and related
formulations. The finish material is applied to the
wadding, which is then folded up in the linen to create the
pointed rubber. The finish is then applied over a number of days
until the desired effect is achieved. One characteristic of a
French polished finish is the unsurpassed depth of colour and grain
clarity. New finishes tend to be rather bright, but this can be
altered with various techniques and rubbing compounds to achieve a
gentler glow. Another advantage of French polishing is that
often, badly marked or blemished finishes on antique furniture can be
cleaned and restored by this method without having to revert to
stripping, thus preserving the value of the
piece.
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| Lacquer Finishes
- For modern and family use furniture the same method described above is
employed to apply a mar-resistant catalyzed lacquer finish. I find
that many customers want a colour change to update their furniture so
this involves a complete stripping off of the old finish, re-staining,
and then refinishing in lacquer. Applying the catalyzed lacquer
with the rubber and then later buffing by hand to a desired sheen
creates a nice traditional looking finish with modern durability and
minimal maintenance.
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