+1 to all the above!
Other than a fun day what did all of you take away from the demos?
I enjoyed watching Matt's method of French Polishing vs the "traditional" laborious method:
"The application of French Polish is quite an art and still holds a large element of mystery to many. It is a skill that is impossible to master without the apprentice succumbing to many very frustrating months of ‘hands on’ polishing and in my case being told to “Wash it off and do it again!” So for those that have never attempted it, and the many who think it is just a case of applying a number of ‘coats’ of shellac varnish with fine sanding between applications resulting in a piano like finish, believe me it is nowhere near as simple as this. Although not wishing to contradict myself it is a way of ending up with a passable finish."
I think it is an excellent option for small, flat projects where you want a glass like finish. Quick, inexpensive and good looking.
Mike and Randalls demo of buffing out lacquer and conversion varnish was interesting but I still think of them as commercial/production finishing techniques. If you want a finish that will stand up to much abuse there is no doubt that conversion varnish is the way to go. The catch is the high up front cost of tools and materials.
Personally, I still prefer the more natural look of an "in the wood" oil finish.
But that's just me. :wink_smil
pete