Service
French polishing, lacquering and wood finishing
Traditional shellac finishing, waxing and wood care, using the Liberon range we bring into New Zealand.
What French polishing is
Shellac, dissolved in spirit, applied in many thin layers with a rubber rather than a brush. It builds a finish that sits in the timber rather than on top of it, which is why an old French polished surface has a depth that a modern lacquer cannot copy. It is slow, and there is no way to make it quick.
It is also repairable. A French polished top that gets marked can be brought back without stripping the whole piece, which is exactly why it was the finish of choice on furniture expected to last generations.
Repolish or restore?
If the timber and joints are sound and only the finish has gone, repolishing on its own will transform a piece for a fraction of a full restoration. Bloom, water rings, sun fade and general dullness are usually finish problems, not timber problems.
If the piece is also loose, split or missing veneer, it becomes a restoration job and the polishing happens at the end.
Other finishes
- Waxing and wax finishes, including coloured waxes for antique work
- Oil finishes for dining tables and surfaces in daily use
- Spirit dyes and stains for colour matching new timber to old
- Stripping back old and failed finishes
- Lacquer and modern hardwearing finishes where they are the right answer
Wood care you can do yourself
Most furniture needs less than people think. Dust it, keep it out of direct sun, keep it away from a heat pump blowing straight at it, and wax it occasionally. We are the New Zealand agents for Liberon and the products are available through liberon.co.nz. If you are not sure which one you need, ring us and ask. We would rather you used the right thing.
Finish looking tired?
Send a photo of the piece and the surface and we will tell you what it needs.