Thread: French Polishing - Attempt #2

OK, I found my problem - I'm actually burning through in places

Too much meths.

Just came across this thread. I'm glad I've inspired to you work on this. Keep it up. I think you have the right idea to work and practice on a test piece. I'll have to try the AquaCoat, or some other proper grain filling next time I do it. My surface had been previously polished, so some shellac was probably left in the surface, helping to fill the grain. I don't know how you do it without oil. When I get rid of the oil, that's when everything stops working. Anyway, I'm looking forward to my next FP job. It's certainly addictive.

It is addictive.

I fear that swmbo was a tad peeved at me with the myriad of bottles and accoutrements accumulated....it now lives in a box 😃😃

I'm yet to order some pumice.

My problem so far has been over polishing and burning through the work at the polishing stage. I think my mouse is a bit too scruffy.

The build stage happens quickly enough. I also need to work on the filling stage...and use more test pieces, not just one or two.

Perhaps I need 10 samples on the go all the time 😀😀

Originally Posted by woodPixel

My problem so far has been over polishing and burning through the work at the polishing stage. I think my mouse is a bit too scruffy.

Yes, that's where I have the most problems. As soon as the oil is gone, I can't do much without burning through. Put some oil back on, and then I find it much easier to work. I'm leaving the oil on, just a super fine film, and then the final polish with scratch-X with a bit of oil mixed in. Once it's polished, the final buff removes the polish and any remaining oil. That worked well for me in the end.

I also found the switch to high quality cotton sheet was better than tshirt material. The t-shirt seems to load up with more polish for higher build at the early stages, but was really grabbing at the final polishing stages, where the cotton sheet glides on the surface better, with less pressure. Still have to be careful not to burn through though.