French Polishing & Protection

[Mick4412]

As some of you would know, I'm keen on French Polishing most of my pieces. Heard about a way of adding the final "gloss"
(( Sorry Neil, if this is in your book))
After applying stain, and coats of shellac to a sample piece of sanded green redgum, I have have lightly rubbed back with 0000 steel wool.
Then I have applied a smear of auto-polish ( cut & polish Poly-glaze)
Rubbed it in & buffed.
Result - a mirror like finish.
Then I have subjected the sample piece to some extreme treatment. Just took a casserole out of the oven - at least 180c, put it on the piece for 5 minutes, expecting some white moisture marks. Not a sign !
Haven't tried it with alcohol ie whisky or equivalent, but did put my VB stubbie on it several times - again, no marks
Am in the process of completing another Tas Oak refectory table, and in the "interests of science" , intend to do similar tests.
Will let you know.
However, it may be I could have achieved the same end result by using a poly-utherine finish - but this goes against my grain !!
mick

[Neil]

You should get a simmilar result using EEE-Ultra Shine (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/eee.htm) which is made for wood not cars, but you won't get the silicon that is most likely in the car polish.

The problem with the silicon comes down the track when it begins to craze the polish and finally gets into the timber, then your real worries start.

You may do even better using using Hard Shellac (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/hardshell.htm) then trying the EEE over the top.

Car polish is for cars, trucks, boats, etc. Not for furniture. I can guarantee you this...... If it was suitable for application to firniture the manufacturers would be shouting it from the roof tops and selling a million times more of it than they now do.

Cheers - Neil :D

PS Floor polish and boot polish aren't made for use on timber either but there are plenty out there that use them, I have even been known to use shoe polish myself in the deep dark past when there wasn't anything else readily available. There are dozens of excellent, readily available, waxes and polishes around today that are made for use on timber (and some of them actually work) so why try to reinvent the wheel. The initial gratification of an instant shine will soon be dulled by dire future consequences. Sorry.... that last sentence was a bit deep and meaningful, especially for me.

[Mick4412]

Thanks Neil,
Given that I would pride myself on the longevity of what I make, I take your comments very seriously
Regards
mick