French Polishes

French Polish and French Polishing Supplies

French polishing is a traditional method of finishing wood using thin layers of shellac polish to create a smooth, deep and highly polished surface. It is particularly associated with antique furniture and fine cabinet making, and remains an important technique for restoring traditional finishes.

Our range includes French polishes, shellac sealers, polishing brushes, mops, polishing materials and complete French polishing kits. Whether you are repairing an existing finish or applying French polish to prepared bare timber, we offer products for the different stages of the process.

Types of French Polish

Different French polishes produce different colours and levels of warmth, making the choice of polish important when restoring furniture or matching an existing finish.

Button Polish is a traditional shellac polish that produces a warm golden tone and is widely used for furniture restoration. Garnet Polish gives a deeper, darker colour, while Black Polish can be used where a dark or ebonised appearance is required. We also stock transparent and pale French polishes for applications where a lighter, more natural-looking finish is preferred.

Our range includes French polishes from Priory Polishes, Fiddes, Liberon, Rustins and Mylands, giving you a choice of colours, finishes and formulations for different restoration projects.

French Polishing Furniture

French polish is commonly used on antique furniture, cabinets and other fine wooden items where a traditional high-sheen finish is required. It can be applied using a French polishing rubber, polishing pad, French polishing brush or suitable mop, depending on the stage of the work and the technique being used.

Successful French polishing starts with good preparation. The timber should be clean, properly prepared and free from dust before applying the finish. A suitable shellac sanding sealer can provide a base for subsequent coats and make the surface easier to prepare before building up the French polish.

French Polish for Antique Furniture Restoration

When restoring antique furniture, it is important to consider whether the existing finish needs to be removed at all. In some cases, a tired or marked French polished surface can be cleaned and revived rather than stripped back to bare wood.

For furniture with an existing finish, a suitable polish reviver may be worth considering before undertaking a complete re-finish. Where the original finish is beyond repair, French polish and traditional shellac products can be used as part of a more extensive restoration.

French Polishing Accessories

As well as French polish itself, we stock the materials and tools needed to carry out traditional French polishing. These include French polishing brushes, squirrel mops, polishing materials, shellac sanding sealers, burnishing products and methylated spirit.

Methylated spirit is commonly used when working with shellac and French polish, including for thinning suitable products and cleaning French polishing brushes. Always follow the instructions for the individual product and observe the relevant safety precautions.

French Polishing Kits

For anyone starting a French polishing project, a French polishing kit can provide many of the essential materials in one package. Our French Polishing Kit includes shellac sanding sealer, shellac French polish, raw linseed oil, fabric for making a polishing rubber and a French polishing brush.

A kit can be particularly useful when you want to have the main materials together before starting a restoration project. Individual products are also available if you already have some of the equipment or need to replace a particular material.

French Polish for Different Woods

French polish can be used on a wide range of suitable wooden surfaces. The colour of the polish can be selected to complement the timber and the existing finish. Different products may be particularly suitable for lighter or darker woods, so it is important to consider the colour and tone you are trying to achieve.

When repairing antique furniture, always test the chosen polish on a small, inconspicuous area or spare piece of matching timber where possible. This allows you to assess the colour and finish before applying it to the main surface.

Traditional French Polishing Supplies

Our French polishing range is designed to provide the traditional materials needed for furniture restoration and wood finishing. Alongside our own Priory Polishes products, we stock established brands including Fiddes, Liberon, Rustins and Mylands.

From individual bottles of French polish and shellac sealer to brushes, mops and complete kits, you can choose the products that suit your particular restoration method and level of experience.

How do you French polish wood?

French polishing is a technique for finishing wood that involves applying multiple layers of shellac to create a high-gloss, mirror-like surface. The process involves applying shellac to the wood using a pad or French polishing brush. French polishing was a popular technique for finishing wood furniture and musical instruments in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it is still used today by skilled craftsmen who appreciate the technique’s unique ability to produce a rich, warm and deep finish. French polishing is an art but can be done by anyone if they know how to do this correctly. Here at Priory polishes we don’t just sell french polishing supplies but we also offer advice and step by step guides on french polishing for beginners. We have a full article here with separate french polishing technique videos. It is worth having a read and watching all the clips for hints and tips. We show preparing wood for french polish, grain filling, using a squirrel mop, bodying up and how to get a beautiful shine.