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Renewing french polish...

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  • 11-11-2006 8:42pm
    #1
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭


    Okay bit of a quandary here...a mate has taken on a restoration job that involves some newel posts and a handrail that are teak (or possibly walnut) and finished out with french polishing.
    He wants to renew the finish which is fairly aged and has lost a lot of it's lustre and phoned me to ask some advice. Now I've seen furniture being french polished from scratch and read some stuff about it but I don't know how to go about sprucing up an old piece.

    Anyone ever done this or know any tips? Is it just a matter of a rub down and re-applying a few coats of shellac? Or does it have to be stripped back and done from the bottom up?
    Any advice mucho appreciado...


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    #2
    kadman
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 5,099 Mod ✭✭✭✭kadman


    French polsih is without doubt the most lustrous finish there is...but is extremely poor in conditions of traffic. Its very prone to damage from water marking, easily chipped , and is not an easy finish to repair.

    It is definitely not the best choice for a stair newel post or hand rail. There are numerous finishes available that are easier to apply , and far superior in all the qualities.

    kadman


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    #3
    Wertz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,909 ✭✭✭✭Wertz


    Oh I know, but this is a period house and the new owner wants to keep the original features. The surfaces aren't damaged at all, they've just been sitting in a derelict state for a long time and probably haven't been treated in half a century or more; it'd be a shame to come along and put lacquer or bog standard varnish over them (with a possiblity of a bad reaction to the substrate)....and obviously calling in a fench polisher is going to be costly.

    He's done finishes like beeswax and danish oil on surfaces liek this so technique isn't really a problem....it's method and preparation in a case like this that my mate needs advice on...


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