• How to make a shellac solution
• The “cut” – proper ratio of shellac flakes to alcohol
• How to construct polishing pads
• Preparation of the wood surface
• Pore filling
• Bodying
• Burnishing
• Effect of moisture on shellac

Now there’s nothing particularly unique about Vijay’s French Polishing technique. It looks fairly standard to me. And although French Polishing is in the title, that’s just a small part of what I personally gleaned from this DVD. For instance, Vijay points out that shellac is misunderstood and has a bit of a undeserved negative reputation in the world of finishing. I am sure you folks have heard many times that shellac has poor water and alcohol resistance. You’ll be doing a double-take when you see the results of Vijay’s tests where he exposes a French polished surface to water and alcohol for several hours with little to no effect on the finish. I love a woodworker who puts his money where his mouth is!

If you have any interest at all in shellac or French polishing, this DVD is a “required viewing”. As someone who has used shellac for years as a sealer and general problem-solver, I am beginning to think it deserves a serious upgrade in my finishing hierarchy.

Its worth noting that Vijay just had an article published in the Nov./Dec. issue of Fine Woodworking: Shellac’s Amazing Journey. And on Wednesday, October 6th at 9pm Eastern, we’ll be having a live Guild interview with the man himself! We’ll discuss his adventures with shellac and get down to the nitty gritty on durability, longevity, and application. Join the Guild today to participate in the interview.

Check out this preview of the DVD:

This project is submitted by Christian. French polishing really yields some great results doesn’t it? Let’s check it out:

This is the finished piece, it’s a turnable English library (don’t know if the name is correct), it has hidden wheels on the bottom so it can be easily moved or turned. The finish is stain, french polished shellac and bees wax. Hope you like it!