Has any one ever used pumice?

[joseph84]

hello fellow woodworkers

I've been flicking through an old fine woodworking magazine (FEB 2004 issue 168). Theres an article where a guy varnishes a bedside table with just your normal 3 coats of varnish. But afterwards he rubs it back with a white power called pumice. The result lives the surface looking silky smooth.

Has any one tried this before that could offer me a little more information about this? Also any one know where i can get it from melbourne, around the western suburbs?

Thanks for any help

Joseph

[markharrison]

Are you sure they didn't say Rottenstone? Rottenstone is much finer than pumice.

[joseph84]

Your right mark, they call it rottenstone pumice. I have a habbit of reading fast and missing a few words!

[Sturdee]

But afterwards he rubs it back with a white power called pumice. The result lives the surface looking silky smooth.

I use whiting powder, after french polishing, which is even finer for that. I rub it on with a brush and then after wiping clean give it a wax finish.


Peter.

[starr]

There are several grades, depending on the finish you want. If you want a high-gloss finish you would start with the course pumice (although course here is still a fine powder - Behlens makes this, I don't know who else does), then use a fine and finally the Tripoli power (bought from U-beaut of course).

You can either spray on water and rub with a rag or use parafin.

It works well to really give your surface a perfectly smooth finish.

[Hayesa]

I use pumice powder to cut back the shine on a french polish finish. I just sprinkle it on and brush with a shoe brush till I have the level of sheen I require.
My tutor, taught that you could also sprinkle it underneath the cover of the rubber to cut back the surface as you polish.

[antiphile]

A very large user of various grades of pumice are dental laboratories. When they make partial or full dentures they use a methyl methacrylate compound (using a monomer liquid and a tinted & veined polymer powder) which is heat cured. After curing it is trimmed, then initially smoothed with a slurry of pumice and water using a calico mop/wheel on a lathe. A final polish is done with a finer compound.

There are various grades of pumice, and some dental labs prefer to use finer/coarser grades or a combination of each. May I suggest you try a Dental Supply company (yellow pages) to see what is available and test several grades to see what is ideal for your purpose?

Cheers
Phil

[sercher]

A very large user of various grades of pumice are dental laboratories. When they make partial or full dentures they use a methyl methacrylate compound (using a monomer liquid and a tinted & veined polymer powder) which is heat cured. After curing it is trimmed, then initially smoothed with a slurry of pumice and water using a calico mop/wheel on a lathe. A final polish is done with a finer compound.

There are various grades of pumice, and some dental labs prefer to use finer/coarser grades or a combination of each. May I suggest you try a Dental Supply company (yellow pages) to see what is available and test several grades to see what is ideal for your purpose?

Cheers
Phil

I use it as a final rub on coated timber varnish, french polish etc, it give a high polished finish use water and the softest cloth you can find. I get mine from a supplier who supplies custom furniture makers. You can get it in various grades use the finest power you can get.

[dr4g0nfly]

Pumice not surprisingly is made from Pumice,

Rottenstone is made from Limestone or Slate, it has another name Tripoli Powder as found jewellers rouge and in your wonderful U-Beaut EEE Ultra Shine

(Yes we finally have a source of it here in England and it's every bit as good as you guys say it is).