French polishing is more than just a wood restoration process. The right professional can make it look like art. It is important to use the right materials and measures to complete the task. Otherwise, fixing the issue would take hours.
Rookie Mistakes in French Polishing
Most issues in French polishing are rookie mistakes. It may happen more often when you contact a contractor with limited experience. Experienced polishers tend to avoid certain agents. These generally hamper the preparation of shellac. This is a vital step in French polishing in Edinburgh. Among them, most avoid using Methylated spirits.
Using Methylated spirits in French polishing leads to costly mistakes, which can be hysterical for specialists. There are other reasons for omitting this agent.
Hazards of Using Methylated Spirits
Most market-ready methylated spirits contain more than 30% water. However, they are still labelled as ‘Methylated spirits’. This is where all the confusion begins. During the initial application, raw shellac flakes will first be dissolved. The high water content makes methylated spirits more corrosive. This makes them more reactive than their pure form. You may have to wait for a few days to use liquid shellac.
Along with creating problems in the application stage, the spirit also hampers the drying process. Typically, alcohol evaporates much faster than water. Using spirits with 100% alcohol content offers a quicker drying time. This allows the experts to apply more coats in a shorter period, reducing the overall time for French polishing.
What is the Solution?
Choose an agent with less water content for seamless, mistake-free French polishing. It would be more practical to use Denatured Absolute Alcohol or DAA. DAA is a suitable replacement for Methylated spirits. It is especially useful in French polishing, reducing the effects caused by methylated spirits while preparing shellac.
With this detailed study, you can identify a suitable agent for French polishing. For professional assistance, contact a renowned name like Bevens Furniture Restoration. Our team consists of experts in French polishing. We are also a trusted source for furniture restoration in Edinburgh. We offer efficient assistance to retain the aesthetics of your antique furniture. For more details about our business, you can visit our website today.