Improving My French Polishing Technique

Varnishing can be done by any person with little or no practice, and is suitable for common articles of furniture; but French polishing cannot be done successfully without considerable practice, though when skillfully managed it enhances the beauty of most woods. Paul N. Hasluck, Wood Finishing , 1897 Practice, practice, practice. We all know how that goes, keeping at something until you get better at it, but if you go about the work inefficiently then you won't get any better. At least, that is how it is with me. You must observe, remember the results and work on improving them the next time you step up to the work bench. What was it that Yoda said in The Empire Strikes Back ? You must unlearn what you have learned. There are times I wish I had learned from a master French polisher, as it is I read whatever I can get my hands on about French polish, and I often reference Ron Fernandez's wonderful video on French polish. I know I need to French polish on a regular