French Polishing

Of all the arts involved in the making and restoration of furniture, French polishing is, in my humble opinion, one of the most satisfying. I use a very traditional technique of polishing and I still delight in the visual magic of the polish as it settles and produces a deep shine across a wooden surface. It is most striking when a combination of woods are used, for instance inlay and edge banding.

Whilst a French polish finish cannot be described as a hardy finish it is eminently maintainable as a result of the natural products and pure spirit base used in the polish. Damage to a French polished surface can most often be easily repaired without needing to replace the whole surface and it can often be repaired at a customer's home. There is no need for spray guns and cabinets as with modern finishes.

The polishes that I use are classic polishes used in the finishing of furniture for centuries. If a customer requires a more hardy finish then there are a number of more modern polishes that contain additives that produce a harder finish with only minor detriment to the look and feel of the finished surface. I am always able to produce samples of different polished surfaces for a customer's consideration.

French polishing does take a significant time from new. Much of this time is waiting for the polish to settle and harden. Whilst 3 or more weeks may be required to complete a new polished piece or a complete resurface this time is not all hard labour and can be more cost effective than people believe.

When restoring a surface the elapsed time to complete is much shorter but I usually advise a customer to resist using the finished surface for 3-4 weeks to allow the polish to settle and harden. If the piece is in my workshop I would typically keep the piece in my home until I feel it can be delivered safely.

Mark Adams

mark@lachlanadams.com