If I wanted to be controversial, I'd say that it doesn't appear to me that your method as documented above is French polishing at all, but rather a type of hybrid padding method that borrows a bit from the full French polishing technique. Which is fine, because that's just as legitimate a finish as anything else but I wouldn't call it French polishing.Quote:
I thought it might be interesting to some of you to know french polishing is also done with a pad
I have here at my desk three books that describe French polishing and all agree that "French polishing" consists of 'rubbing' the shellac into the pores of the wood using a pad called a 'rubber' that is made from some sort of absorbent core wrapped in a lint-free material. A fourth book (Jeff Jewitt), as already discussed, also describes the same method, with the exception that the author does not refer to the applicator as a rubber, preferring to call it a pad. So to my mind, the rubbing motion and the use of the rubber are integral to the technique.
Your technique of applying the shellac in straight strokes similar to an aeroplane landing and taking off is what Neil refers to in his book as 'the swooge coat'. Which is a preliminary coat that takes place prior to using the rubber. It is done with the 'fad' which ultimately becomes the core of the rubber when it is wrapped in linen.
Jeff Jewitt also describes a similar technique, which he calls 'padding shellac' where he applies the shellac using the same aeroplane analogy - but always with the grain. This is where, if I understand it correctly, your method varies from true French polishing, in which the rubber is moved in a circular pattern over the surface.