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Adhesives, Paints, and Varnishes: French

To finish with a French polish any previous coating, all varnish should be removed and the surface given a smooth, dead finish with sandpaper, followed by a cloth moistened and dipped in fine pumice or rotten stone.

To apply the varnish, moisten a small square pad made of several thicknesses of flannel sewed or quilted together, and apply the middle of the cloth to the mouth of the bottle. Thus the pad will take up a small quantity of varnish, but sufficient to cover a considerable surface. Then lay the pad on a piece of soft linen cloth, double the whole back over the edges, and close it up at the back of the pad to form a handle. Apply a little raw linseed oil with the tip of the finger to the middle, place the work in a good light, and rub quickly and lightly over the surface with quick, light, circular strokes. Always work from the center outward. Continue until the varnish becomes nearly dry. Moisten the pad again, but without the oil, and give two additional coats.

Moisten the pad slightly with oil, and finish with two additional coats of varnish. Lastly, wet the inside of the linen cloth with alcohol before taking up the varnish pad, and rub over the whole surface. Polish with oil and alcohol, without varnish, using a clean linen cloth. To give a fine French polish, soft clean linen must be used and the atmosphere must be entirely free from dust. Use no more varnish each time than can be rubbed to a high polish, and continue rubbing until the rag seems dry. To Prepare French Polish.-Mix 4 ounces of shellac, 1 ounce of gum arabic, and 4 ounce of gum copal.