French Polishing: A Practical Furniture Restoration Guide

French Polishing by Philippa Barstow and Alan Waterhouse is a digital PDF guide to furniture finishing and restoration. It explains the materials, preparation, techniques, and projects involved in French polishing.

This digital download is available for instant download after purchase. It is written for beginners and for readers who already have experience with polishing.

The book includes 165 pages of instruction, photographs, drawings, tables, project guidance, supplier information, and an index.

Book Overview

French Polishing presents a structured introduction to the craft of French polishing. The authors begin with furniture history, finishes, shellac, workshop conditions, preparation, stains, and grain fillers.

The second part covers practical polishing methods, including sealing, rubbering, colouring, bodying up, finishing, repolishing, inlaid work, ebonizing, dulling, waxing, and common problems.

The final part contains projects for furniture and architectural features, including chairs, chests of drawers, cabinets, tables, staircases, fire surrounds, windows, window seats, and doors. The book was first published in 1993 by B.T. Batsford Ltd in London.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• A brief history of furniture and finishes.
• Guidance on shellac, French polishes, workshop conditions, and traditional polishing.
• Methods for cleaning, stripping, timber preparation, bleaching, liming, distressing, staining, and filling grain.
• Detailed sections on brushes, sealing, rubbers, rubbering, colouring, coating, bodying up, and finishing off.
• Techniques for repolishing without stripping, polishing inlaid work, ebonizing, dulling, and waxing.
• Thirty practical projects covering furniture, staircases, fire surrounds, windows, window seats, and pine doors.
• Reference material including USA materials, suppliers, and an index.

Why This Book Matters

French polishing is presented as a practical craft with logical stages of work. The authors address common problems faced by students and explain how to assess the requirements of individual pieces of furniture.

The book connects preparation, materials, technique, and finishing in one reference. Its combination of photographs, drawings, tables, project examples, and supplier information supports readers studying furniture restoration and traditional finishing.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download, not a physical book. There is no physical shipping, and access is available after purchase.

The PDF can be opened with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps. Use a PDF-capable application for the best experience.

FAQ

When can I access the book?
Access is available after purchase, with the PDF provided as an instant digital download.

Will I receive a physical copy?
No. This product is a digital download, so no physical copy is shipped.

Which devices support the file?
The PDF can be read with appropriate Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and compatible reading apps.

Download French Polishing for a focused reference on traditional furniture finishing and restoration techniques.