Finishing Tips Compiled by Richard Nice

"Women make the best strippers" "Yes" I can safely say, that they are far more meticulous than men in stripping furniture.

"Look after the edges, and let the center look after it's self"

1. Green Kills Red. Therefore if you have stained or have a timber that is too red you can colour it down with some green colouring such as spirit green. Always be aware that reds are a strong colour and you need to increase the colour to the polish slowly (a little at a time), other wise you will end up with 30 gallons of red polish. The strength of colouring and pigments generally decreases but spirit stains take time to mix thoroughly thus they increase in strength when first made, so let them "stand" for half an hour.

2. Ladies stockings or tights. Are handy if you cut off the toes and wrapped around your French polish rubber to keep the wadding or cotton wool in shape. Don't forget to cover with a fine weave cotton cloth Try it, it does work.

3. Ladies Make up Brushes Are a lot cheaper than polishing mops and provided you get a pure bristle one they can be quite good. They do not replace a good polishing mop however they can be used for applying stains and bleaches.

4. Safe Oil Finish cooking oil is a safe finish for things such as fruit bowls, etc It is also readily available from the kitchen if the wife isn't looking.

5. Staining End Grain Simply give it a coat of French polish or sand and sealer to seal the wood before staining. This stops the end grain absorbing too much of the stain.

6. Polishing Turned Work Leave it on the lathe and polish it there. It is then quite simple to turn on the lathe, sand up and polish. Apply wax polish on a cloth with the lathe running can saves hours of work. But remember to use the trailing edge of the cloth.

7. Polishing Components before you assemble the can also saves hours of work, cleaning off glue, sanding off glue stains and awkward corners or mouldings all can be avoided by prefinishing components. Think of the finished piece, will it be easier to finish some or all before you assemble ?

8. Wire Wool can be your best friend or worst enemy. Wirewool will ride over the hills and hollows smoothing them but not removing them. Remember that sandpaper flattens the surface not wire wool however it does dull a finish down as below.

9. Wax Polishing Apply your wax with OOOO the finest grade wire wool to give a semi-gloss finish to your work and remove that flashy look.

10. Polishing When you are brushing on French polish remember to keep a wet edge to the polish, this will give a smooth finish without ridges being formed by over lapping stokes.