The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
Very little rubbing need be done if the spot has been prepared properly, and if too much pressure is put on the rubbing pad, it will cut through the finish and require frenching to build it up again. This would cause more work than the scratch originally, so close watching and frequent inspection are essential when rubbing down a spot filled with cement.
OTHER SURFACING METHODS
Waterproof garnet paper and water or pumice and water may be used on extremely dull finishes, but occasions for their use are rare. Dry garnet paper, grade 6/0 or 7/0, may be used on a block if the surface is quite level and you want to coat over the surface with another coat of finishing material.
SURFACING CEMENT FOR FRENCIIING
When you intend to French polish the surface or spot with amalgamater or French varnish, rub the spot down nearly level with naphtha on a clean felt and then sand the surface level and smooth with fine garnet paper, with oil on the paper. If the surface is rounding, the sheet of paper is cut in eighths, as in any other sanding operation, and held in the hand between the third and little finger. With oil on the surface, sand lightly until smooth, but do not cut into the other finish any more than necessary to get a smooth spot, neither higher nor lower than the surrounding finish.
POLISHING CEMENT IN SCRATCHES
Polish with rottenstone and oil (in this case it is best to use rottenstone cake instead of powder to eliminate any grit that may happen to get into powdered rottenstone left open) and with little pressure and a few strokes with the grain, a high polish will result. The rottenstone may also be used with water. The most common way of polishing a spot filled with wood cement is to surface it down and then French polish with amalgamater. This will leave a good clear finish and can be accomplished quickly, at the same time making a clear finish with no evidence of the joining of the cement with the other finish. Frequently it will be absolutely necessary to french a surface to get a perfect job, as when the patch is in a very conspicuous place. Make a few circular motions to draw out all the sanding marks and then a few strokes with the grain, lifting the pad at the end of each stroke and having the pad just tacky, as described in the chapter on frenching.
