The Furniture Repair Shop
  • Home
  • Antique Repair
  • French Polishing
  • Cane and rush
  • Upholstery
  • About me
  • Reviews
  • Blog

Email
[email protected]


Phone
07435 150 150


French Polishing



​French polishing is the name given to the process of applying Shellac to a piece of wood.
A piece of wadding wrapped in cloth is charged with shellac, this is called a ‘rubber’. The rubber is used to make hundreds of passes over the workpiece and is lubricated with oil to stop the rubber sticking to the surface. Each pass leaves a microscopic trace of polish and the aim is to fill the grain but leave only a thin film of polish on the surface of the wood.
​Done correctly, French polishing can’t be beaten for appearance.
With antique furniture, the aim should be to try preserve the original polish work whenever possible.

Unfortunately this isn’t always possible like this Windsor chair. The chair came into the workshop with so little left of the original finish it had to be repolished.
Picture
Picture
Below is a table which came to my workshop in a poor state. It needed a new section making and the whole table needed French Polishing. Not all the French polishing jobs I do are as big as this one!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Table top needing French Polishing
Picture
Picture
Table top after French Polishing

How to find me


For a free, no-obligation estimate please email me at the address below and include a contact number.

Visits to the workshop are by appointment only, so please email or phone to avoid the possibility that I might not be there!

I respond to all emails, usually within 48 hours. If you haven’t received a reply within this timeframe, please check your spam/ junk folder or give me a call.
Picture
The Furniture Repair Shop
12a Aire View
Silsden
West Yorkshire
BD20 0AN
Picture

Phone: 07435 150 150
Picture

furniturerepairshop
@aol.com
Copyright ©️ 2025 The Furniture Repair Shop
  • Home
  • Antique Repair
  • French Polishing
  • Cane and rush
  • Upholstery
  • About me
  • Reviews
  • Blog