A beautiful, fine, glossy finish and advice on repairing damage to French polish.

Made by dissolving shellac in alcohol, French polish is not easy to apply and is easily marked and stained but is the finest of all polished finishes.

You'll need
Gloves
French polish
Small paint brush
Sheet cottonwool

Here's how
1 Prepare the item for finishing.

2 Wearing gloves, apply French polish to small areas (such as the legs of this table) with a small paint brush, and use a small applicator to remove excess polish and even out the finish, going with the grain where possible. Work on a small area at a time, as the polish dries quickly.

If it feels sticky, it means you are working too slowly or on too large an area. The applicator can be re-wet with polish to work out the sticky area, but it is best to avoid this problem in the first place.

The correct motion is to start with small circles, working into a figure eight movement and then long strokes with the grain. Keep the applicator moving at all times, and when taking it off the surface 'slide' it off rather than abruptly lifting it. The pressure should be firm, but not hard enough to lift previous coats.

3 For larger areas such as the table top, use a larger applicator to put the polish on, continually dipping the applicator into a shallow container of French polish. Work as described in step 2.

4 Use the nylon scourer to lightly rub the entire surface. Any drips or runs can be lightly sanded out with 280 or 320 grit abrasive paper. Dust off with a soft brush or cloth, and clean with the tack cloth.

5 Repeat the layers of French polish, using the scourer between each coat. We applied six coats of French polish to this table. Four coats would be the minimum for an acceptable finish. More than six will add to the depth of finish.

Repairing damage to French polish
If a French polished finish is scratched or chipped, there is no quick way to repair it. It should be sanded back or stripped with methylated spirits, and re-coated.

Greasy or sticky marks can be wiped off the surface with a damp cloth. The surface should then be wiped dry immediately.

To revive French polish first wash it with warm water and soap flakes. When it is thoroughly dry, apply a reviver of five parts alcohol, two parts linseed oil and one part turpentine, or use a proprietary reviver.

If the surface has been exposed to sunlight it may be faded and the timber beneath bleached. Strip off the French polish, wash with diluted vinegar and when dry rub in a mixture of equal parts linseed oil and turpentine to revive the colour of the wood. Then reapply French polish.

Source: Stripping and Finishing Furniture (Murdoch Books)