French Polishing Kit is perfect for a Traditional High Sheen Finish on Antique Furniture. This kit includes:
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Priory Polishes French Polishing Kit contains the essential materials and tools needed to French polish antique and wooden furniture and create a traditional high-sheen finish.
French polishing is a traditional furniture finishing technique using shellac to build up a rich, deep and highly polished surface. It is widely used when restoring antique furniture and is also popular with cabinet makers and furniture restorers.
This kit brings the main materials together in one convenient package, making it suitable for anyone undertaking a French polishing or furniture restoration project.
The French Polishing Kit contains:
The products have been selected to provide the main materials required for preparing the wood, applying shellac and building a traditional polished finish.
French polishing is a traditional method of finishing wooden furniture using shellac. Rather than applying one thick coat, many very thin layers of shellac are applied using a polishing rubber.
The process gradually builds depth, clarity and gloss, producing the distinctive high-sheen finish associated with traditional French-polished furniture.
French polishing is particularly associated with antique furniture, fine cabinets and high-quality wooden furniture where the appearance of the timber and depth of finish are important.
The technique requires patience and practice, but the materials in this kit provide the essential products needed to get started.
The kit is designed to take you through the main stages of French polishing:
French polishing is a skill-based finishing process, so achieving the best result requires patience and careful application rather than applying large amounts of polish at once.
Priory Polishes Shellac Sanding Sealer is used to seal the wood and provide a suitable base for the subsequent layers of French polish.
It also helps provide a barrier between the initial sealing coat and the following layers of shellac.
The formulation is made from pure shellac and alcohol and is designed to sand smoothly, helping to create a good foundation for French polishing.
Priory Polishes Shellac French Polish is made using fine-quality shellac flakes and produces a rich, warm finish.
It is suitable for traditional antique furniture restoration as well as modern cabinet making and furniture finishing.
French polish is applied in many thin layers using a polishing rubber. As the layers build, the finish develops greater depth, clarity and sheen.
The kit includes 30ml of Priory Polishes Raw Linseed Oil.
A small amount of oil can be used during French polishing as a lubricant for the rubber, helping it to move smoothly across the surface while the shellac is being applied.
Only a small amount should be used. Excessive oil can interfere with the finish and may require additional cleaning or polishing to remove.
The supplied cotton fabric can be used with cotton wadding to make a French polishing rubber.
The rubber holds and distributes the shellac while allowing very thin layers to be applied to the surface.
The kit also includes a French Polishing Brush made with soft, natural, evenly layered hair bristles.
The rounded head allows the brush to spread shellac smoothly and is useful when applying multiple layers of French polish quickly and evenly.
French polishing involves applying many thin layers of shellac rather than trying to achieve the finished surface in one application.
The general process involves:
French polishing is a technique that improves with practice. Avoid excessive pressure and do not overload the rubber with polish.
For detailed instructions, hints and techniques, see our How to French Polish guide.
A French Polishing Kit contains the main materials and tools required to apply a traditional shellac French polish finish to wooden and antique furniture.
The kit includes 30ml Raw Linseed Oil, 1 litre Shellac Sanding Sealer, 1 litre Shellac French Polish, fabric for making a polishing rubber and a French Polishing Brush.
French polishing is traditionally used to create a rich, deep, high-sheen finish on wooden furniture. It is particularly associated with antique furniture, fine cabinets and traditional furniture restoration.
Yes. The kit is specifically suited to French polishing antique furniture and other wooden furniture requiring a traditional shellac finish.
Shellac Sanding Sealer is used to seal the wood and create a suitable base for subsequent layers of French polish. It also provides a barrier between the initial coat and later layers of shellac.
Shellac French Polish is a shellac-based furniture finish used to create a rich, warm and highly polished surface. It is applied in thin layers using a French polishing rubber.
A French polishing rubber is used to apply very thin layers of shellac to the furniture surface. The supplied fabric can be combined with cotton wadding to make the rubber.
A small amount of Raw Linseed Oil can be used as a lubricant during French polishing, helping the rubber move smoothly across the surface while applying shellac.
The main application of French polish is normally carried out using a polishing rubber. The supplied French Polishing Brush is useful for applying and spreading shellac during the process and for building up layers efficiently.
There is no fixed number of coats. French polishing involves building the finish gradually through many thin applications until the required depth, clarity and sheen are achieved.
French polishing is a traditional technique that requires some practice and patience. The quality of the final finish depends on surface preparation, application technique and building the shellac up gradually.
Yes. The kit provides the main materials needed to learn the basic French polishing process. Beginners should practise on a suitable piece of timber or an inconspicuous area before working on valuable furniture.
Yes. French polishing is commonly applied to properly prepared bare wood after the surface has been sealed and prepared for the subsequent shellac coats.
Drying time depends on the thickness of the application, ventilation, temperature and other conditions. Thin coats dry relatively quickly, which is one reason French polishing is built up gradually rather than through thick applications.
Yes. French polish is a traditional finish widely used in antique furniture restoration. However, always establish what finish is already present before beginning restoration work.
Yes. Shellac French Polish is also used by cabinet makers and furniture makers to create a rich, traditional high-sheen finish.
Important: Always test on a small area first and follow the safety and application instructions supplied with the individual products.
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