On Fri, 08 Oct 2004 18:42:59 GMT, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
> wrote:

>> What on earth is a drying oil doing mixed in with French polish ?
>
>Brain-finger-infarction. Not mixed in...

I don't hold with this whole idea of using linseed oil in French
polishing at all. I use mineral oil, because I _know_ it's not going
to cure and will come off easily once I've finished.

> The French polish is done with the shellac, but it doesn't hold very well
>in the presence of moisture. A very, very thin rub-out with linseed oil and
>super-fine wool over the shellac doesn't detract at all from the appearance,
>but protects better.

Interesting idea - can't say I've tried it.

I don't French polish much. Most of my stuff is shellac over oil
(tung) because I don't want such a "formal" finish as a high-gloss
French polish. I must give this a go, because I really can't imagine
it working to deliver what I expect as French polish.

I'm working on a couple of cremation urns at the moment; sarcophagus
"tea caddy" style, one in walnut, one in mahogany. I might give it a
try.

>Done with chemically "boiled" oils, the coating never really dries. With
>the real stuff, it's totally dry and "micro-varnished" overnight.

I still don't agree that this is is "the real stuff". What's
"chemically boiled" oil ? To my mind, the real stuff is hot-boiled
with lead or manganese salts, and neutralised with limestone chips.
This is still a process involving the addition of chemistry, but it's
the classic recipes for cabinetry.

Do you have any references for low-temperature purely
heat-polymeriseed oils ? I'm interested in collecting these.

--
Smert' spamionam