How to French Polish - Part 2 of 3

In this second video on How to French Polish, Simon demonstrates how to disguise a filled repair using raw pigment powders and spirit colours. He also then goes on to demonstrate how to slowly add colour to the finish by adding small amounts of spirit colour using a french polishers fad.
02:25 Colouring explanation
03:25 Using 320 grit sandpaper to denib the surface
06:00 Sanding through the stain
08:20 Filling a scratch using beeswax
13:00 Colouring a scratch using natural raw pigment powders
14:10 Out-Take
21:30 Applying colour to a wood finish using a colour fad
32:25 Adding shellac to the fad to seal in the colour

[@michaelaiello9525]

I French Polish instruments, but I am always learning more. I really appreciate this series. Everyone’s materials, dyes, oils , flakes are slightly different… I guess that’s how we each arrive at our unique process. I especially appreciated the wax fill during the coloring process. I could see a segment on repair. Restoring another’s finish is a trick,.. it’s almost impossible to match the original materials. I’d love to see your process for going about that.

[@johncullinan8041]

Brilliant and great to see real craftsmanship. 👍🏻🤓🇬🇧

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you.

[@09vural]

slowly practice, if you can do one video for the removing scratches black piano surface please thank so much again

[@andrewarthurmatthews6685]

I use a fine tipped electric soldering iron and coloured wax stopper as near to the timber colour as possible

[@GilboysRestoration]

)Yes we do as well, also shellac sticks, brummer stopper, etc. They all have their place. Its just knowing when and where to use them :-)

[@Steve_1401]

Great teacher - you remind me so much of Tim Vine ! :)

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Steve. I have been told this a few times now. If only I had his quick wit. 😁

[@jackieohehir3259]

Excellent job...I learned something new today👍

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you. I hope it helps people understand what French polishing actually means and some of the many processes that are sometimes involved in its application. 😀

[@PeanutsDadForever]

Your Apprentices must clearly benefit from such concise explanations. 👴🏻🇦🇺

[@romantea3506]

How do you manage not to get the sandpaper clogged up causing more scratches in the previous finishing?

[@pauldolden8934]

Great video-thanks. I notice you use purple dyed meths-would you recommend using this on both dark and light woods? Cheers

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Paul. You can use clear finishing spirits if you wish. But I have never had a problem with the purple colour in the meths on any of our work. Kind regards Simon

[@cobberpete1]

Nice to watch... Don't know if it has any effect ( on the colour). Can you get Meths without the purple stain? In Oz, I have Clear Meths to make my Shellac

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi peter Yes you can. It's called finishing spirits over here. It's more expensive than meths I tend to use it more when rubbering. I have never seen any noticeable colour effect from the meths. 🙂

[@papaeph6134]

Nice one Simon - love your videos. You say that when colouring you use a mixture of meths and polish to mix the colours. What do you mean by polish? Any pointers on where to buy the coloured powders and spirit colours from? Thanks again.....Papa Eph

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Papa Eph. The 'polish' is the polish I'm applying to the surface; shellac french polish. You can buy the pigments form many online retailers. They are raw earth pigments and spirit colours. It takes a lot of practise but it is good fun. I really enjoy it. Good luck Simon

[@papaeph6134]

@@GilboysRestoration Thanks ever so much for that Simon - Btw, I sorted out that Tilting Loo Table and, with your help, it looks absolutely stunning.

[@greatlambrini8722]

Too much talk and not enough do.

[@GilboysRestoration]

I'm not sure I understand your comment. This is an instructional video. The 'do' bit is down to you, I explain and demonstrate the process. Its down to you to learn the techniques.

[@keithcitizen4855]

ime not onto part 3 yet but starting understand why circular movements are not done yet in the process, building up color in layers ,fascinating, I just used button shellac on the good wood harmomium cabinets with darkening effect happening as the finish built up.

[@drmichael1064]

These are fantastic videos. Love the Mr Ben quote (13:08). Do you happen to run short courses for amateur hobbyists by any chance?

[@11ccom]

Good stuff.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks.

[@ASouthernYankee]

Another excellent video! I have a question... Can you grain fill after the initial fadding coats of polish, by using a small bit of oil with fine pumice or rotten stone? Would the polish, rotten stone/pumice mix with some wood dust to fill the grain?

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Southern Yankee. Thank you. Yes you can apply a grain filler once it has been sealed. But be careful not to over apply. All you need to do is seal the surface whilst at the same time leaving the pores of the grain open. I would imagine you mix would work well. you could always add a little colour to that mix using a little stain. *We have just filmed a new video for the channel where I demonstrate a way of creating a 'Limed Oak' finish. I show a way of sealing the surface prior to grain filling. ✅ It will be out in a few weeks. 🙂

[@finbarstadt7213]

I enjoy French polishing and much prefer the finish to any other. This was a great video and I learned some new tips.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Glad it was helpful. Thank you.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Fascinating. Thanks!

[@Goswami13Akash]

I am wood polish artists

[@cobar5342]

Thank you again

[@Steve_1401]

So many times you've mentioned to only go with the grain. On a flat panel such as the one you're doing, that's easy. How do you approach something that has a frame? I make chessboards that usually have a 2 or 3 inch wide frame. Looking at the board, with the grain running horizontally, there are two pieces of frame on either side where the grain runs vertically. On my projects, if you look closely you can often see small marks/blemishes cutting across the grain in those areas.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Steve. It will become easier the more times you do it. When it comes to bodying and spiriting choose a direction you want to finish off. It's up to you. Your technique will improve with time. ✅

[@Steve_1401]

@@GilboysRestoration Thanks :)

[@swannonline1363]

Great video as always Simon. I'd love to here more abiut what they got you to do when you were an apprentice. What was the point of getting a French Polish with a fad? Can it be achieved? From my limited experience, I guess it would have taught you to wait until the previous coat dried before applying the next otherwise you'll get a load of cotton fibres in your finish...

[@GilboysRestoration]

I think it was a way of teaching me how to work the polish in the fad. After a while the fad becomes stiffer and forms itself in your hand. The face of the fad gets stiff and whitens. After longer use the fibres of the fad join together, so you don't get any in your finish. It almost becomes your rubber without the cotton cloth wrapped around it. A strange concept I give you, but it works. In each new video we produce I will be giving little insights to my apprenticeship. It was very much an apprenticeship in the old fashioned sense 🤪 Best wishes Simon

[@swannonline1363]

@@GilboysRestoration that reminds me of the mechanical engineering apprentice who had to make a cube from a lump of metal using only a file as a way to teach the apprentice how to use a file properly. Brilliant Simon. Thank you!

[@andystonebridge5061]

Imagine what it used to be like pre mutton cloth for a fad and using the inside of a rubber that used wadding!

[@swannonline1363]

@@andystonebridge5061 I've read that in a few books and even tried it once - very messy. I've only just started trying it with mutton cloth, as I said above, I found that I need to make sure the previous coating has dried before applying the next otherwise I end up with fibres in the finish. Ive don't it a few times with a rubber too, and find this can work quite well... Not sure whether that is cheating?

[@posytilly5726]

Excellent video as always. Looking forward to restoring a 1780s bureau I got that needs a lot of work but it will soon be back to its former glory

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Posy. I hope this helps you. 😀

[@fraforgt-350r2]

Hi any tips for French polishing a very small piece of walnut burr veneer. It’s part of a leg I’m repairing and it’s only a few inches big. So far I have sealed the surface with five coats of shellac (waiting 5 mins in between) and a day later I began bodying. It’s such a small piece that I could apply polish to the whole area in a few swipes, so I just kept going over it again and again. There isn’t really room for figure of eights so I just went in random direction swiping and then finishing with straight lines. Eventually after 10 mins my pad started getting chewed up even after applying oil. So I left it. It looks shinier in some parts but not very glossy at all yet. What should I do?

[@GilboysRestoration]

Cut it back so its smooth and only go over it with the rubber for one or two passes at a time. Then walk away and do something else. On small pieces like this I wouldn't attempt bodying it as it sound like its too small. 🙂

[@fraforgt-350r2]

@@GilboysRestoration Hi Simon, Followed your advice and it’s worked perfectly. Thank you so much, it was all patchy, dull but also shiny in small places before. But I sanded with 600 grit and then applied coats over 10 mins or so. I just applied it once and then left it for half a minute, then I came back and applied another one again and again. Left it to dry and voila, much better and much shiner. It’s still not perfect but I know why it’s not perfect - that’s the main thing. Anyway I’ve learnt my lesson for very small parts, apply coats and then wait a bit before reapplying. Thanks so much

[@bernardstokes6550]

Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway beside your workshop...nice.,,,Excellent video and highly personable presentation thanks

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Bernard. Thank you, Im glad you enjoyed watching it. The heritage line running beside the workshop is South Devon Railway.. Here's a very close up video of one going past the workshop. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn_UYap_qpqrb7M. We were testing our new iPhones 😀

[@bernardstokes6550]

@@GilboysRestoration ah my research was wanting...

[@GilboysRestoration]

It's all quite here now. No steam trains in January 🙃