to create a Button Polish.

The shellac is being weighed out to create a four pound cut polish - two pounds at a

time.

Shellac is pure tree sap, dried and used in many, many ways. In this instance we are using it

to French Polish.

As you can see it’s not an exact science but more to do with how the shellac flows

from the rubber onto the job.

So the French Polisher is using his expert eye to judge how much Shellac is required.

Not far off now.

Now the appropriate amount of Meths will be added to the flaked Shellac; this is what

is called a Button Orange Shellac.

[stitrring]It has to be thoroughly mixed so that every single flake is suspended in the

meths.

And then it’ll be left for a week or so, and each day it will be stirred until the

Shellac is exactly the right consistency.

The stirring of the Shellac will be done on a regular basis, sometimes up to three or

four times a day.

Making your own Shellac ensures that the materials you are using are pure and the French Polish

has no added materials, such as varnish or other synthetic materials.

You see now that the mixture is about ready to be left to settle, and ready to be stirred

once more when the time is right.

You can see what we are trying to achieve. This Shellac was made about a week ago and

is perfect to be used for the restoration and conservation of antiques or in the finishing

of something handmade or something new. It’s completely reversible and completely maintainable.

Shellac finishes have lasted hundreds and hundreds of years and help to build a beautiful

patination.