French Polishing and Enamelling

French Polishing and Enamelling

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Title: French Polishing and Enamelling A Practical Work of Instruction
Author: Richard Bitmead
Release Date: March 6, 2006 [EBook #17935]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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FRENCH POLISHING AND ENAMELLING
A Practical Work of Instruction
INCLUDING NUMEROUS RECIPES FOR MAKING POLISHES, VARNISHES,
GLAZE-LACQUERS, REVIVERS, ETC.
BY RICHARD BITMEAD
AUTHOR OF "THE CABINET-MAKER'S GUIDE," "THE UPHOLSTERER'S
GUIDE," ETC. Fourth Edition
[Illustration: Capio Lumen]
LONDON CROSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON 7, STATIONERS' HALL COURT,
LUDGATE HILL 1910

[All rights reserved]
PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND
BECCLES.

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Early in the present century the method generally adopted for polishing furniture was by
rubbing with beeswax and turpentine or with linseed-oil. That process, however, was
never considered to be very satisfactory, which fact probably led to experiments being
made for the discovery of an improvement. The first intimation of success in this
direction appeared in the Mechanic's Magazine of November 22, 1823, and ran as
follows: "The Parisians have now introduced an entirely new mode of polishing, which is
called plaque, and is to wood precisely what plating is to metal. The wood by some
process is made to resemble marble, and has all the beauty of that article with much of its
solidity. It is even asserted by persons who have made trial of the new mode that water
may be spilled upon it without staining it." Such was the announcement of an invention
which was destined ultimately to become a new industry.
The following pages commence with a description of the art of French Polishing in its
earliest infancy, care having been taken by the Author, to the best of his ability, to note
all the new processes and manipulations, as well as to concisely and perspicuously
arrange and describe the various materials employed, not only for French polishing but
for the improving and preparation of furniture woods, a matter of great importance to the
polisher. The arts of Staining and Imitating, whereby inferior woods are made to
resemble the most costly, are also fully treated, as well as the processes of Enamelling,
both in oil-varnishes and French polish, together with the method of decorating the same.
The condition of the art of polishing in America is dwelt upon, and various interesting
articles written by practical polishers in the States, which appeared in their trade journal,
The Cabinet-maker, have been revised and printed in this work.
A number of valuable recipes, and other instructive matter, useful alike to the amateur
and to the practical workman, are also given.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE IMPROVING AND PREPARATION OF FURNITURE WOODS. PAGE Improving 2
Matching 3 Painting 5 Dyed Polishes 6
CHAPTER II.
STAINS AND IMITATIONS. Imitation Mahogany 8 Imitation Rosewood 8 Imitation

Walnut 9 Imitation Ebony 10 Imitation Oak 11 Imitation Satin-wood 12 A Blue Stain 13
A Green Stain 13 A Purple Stain 13 A Red Stain 14 Imitation Purple-wood Stain 14
Chemicals used in Staining 15 Process of Staining 16 Ready-made Wood Stains 17
CHAPTER III.
FRENCH POLISHING. The Polish Used 18 Rubbers 22 Position 24 Filling-in 25
Applying the Polish 26 Spiriting-off 30 Prepared Spirits 32 Antique Style 32 Dull or
Egg-shell Polish 33 Polishing in the Lathe 34
CHAPTER IV.
CHEAP WORK. Glazing 37 Stencilling 39 Charcoal Polishing 40
CHAPTER V.
RE-POLISHING OLD WORK 42
CHAPTER VI.
SPIRIT VARNISHING. Varnishes 46 Brushes and Pencils 47 Mode of Operation 47 East
Indian Varnishes 48
CHAPTER VII.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS. Remarks on Polishing 51 The Polishing Shop 52
CHAPTER VIII.
ENAMELLING. Materials 57 Tools 58 Mode of Operation 58 Polishing 60 Another
Process 61 Decorations 63
CHAPTER IX.
AMERICAN POLISHING PROCESSES. Use of Fillers 65 Making Fillers 70 Japan of the
Best Quality 70 Fillings for Light Woods 70 Another for Light Woods 70 For Mahogany
or Cherry Wood 71 For Oak Wood 71 For Rosewood 71 For Black Walnut (1) 71 " (2)
71 An Oil Colour for Black Walnut (3) 72 Finishing 73 Black Walnut Finishing 75
Finishing Veneered Panels, etc. 78 Light Woods (Dead Finish) 79 Mahogany or Cherry
Wood 79 Oak 79 Rosewood, Coromandel, or Kingwood (a Bright Finish) 79 Walnut 80
Finishing Cheap Work 81 With One Coat of Varnish 81 Wax Finishing 82 A Varnish
Polish 82 With Copal or Zanzibar Varnish 83 Polishing Varnish 85 An American Polish