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Oct5French polishing is a method of wood finishing involving the application of many coats of shellac using a rubbing pad called a “fad”. Great skill is required in applying the shellac as different rubbing motions have to be employed to produce the required finish. Due to the labor-intensive nature of French polishing, its popularity waned in the 1930s when less expensive methods of finishing became available. The technique is most often used for mahogany and other expensive woods. It produces a very hard, durable finish though it is sensitive to heat; the good news is that a surface that has a French polish finish can be repaired if damaged. Shellac comes from the secretion of the female lac insect found in Assam and Thailand; the secretion is deposited on tree trunks so the insect can gain a sticky hold on the tree. The flaky secretion is harvested and dissolved in alcohol to produce a liquid form of shellac which can be applied to wood. The natural color is largely dependent on the type of tree sap consumed by the insect.
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