I have French polished a few smaller surtaces in the past but it has been several years. And this is the biggest thing I've done. The experience of French polishing this piece has made me fall in love with that method all over again! Why? It requires no investment in specialized equipment. A little wool wadding (which you can get in the foot care section of most drug stores) and a square of cotton from an undershirt is all you need to apply this finish. The other materials are just denatured alcohol, shellac flakes, mineral oil and pumice.
It has no toxic fumes (and in fact I am working on it in place, in my family room). When I get in a rythm it is almost relaxing. It is the most beautiful finish in my opinion and the feel of it is wonderful to the touch. While a true expert could get an even smoother and more reflective surface straight off the pad than I can get, I'm satisfied with it as is.
This particular piece was made in the 1950s or 1960s by the Old Colony Furniture Co. of Nashua, NH, which my grandfather ran. I think he'd be happy.
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