18th Century Beeswax Wood Finishing with a French Polissoir (Don Williams Workshop Tour Part 4)

Don Williams shows how to use a French Polissoir (polisher) with a beeswax pasted wax to burnish and polish furniture as was done in the 18th century. See the article & photos here: woodandshop.com/don-williams-b...
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[@jamesainslie8646]

So nice to see an 18th Century technique still alive today!

[@jeffloitz1682]

Thank you Don for opening up your shop!

[@TomLongusa]

This series of videos was complete joy to stumble across. I would love to replicate this barn for my Woodworking dreams!Thanks for the tour Don...

[@Delectes_Studio]

I did something similar with some wood chucks from some walnut wood a few months ago I discovered it by accident but I really thought it was cool. I gave up on it though because I didn't know what I was doing but you sir have proven that this is a logical and surefire way to finish and now I will definitely take note and apply this archaic knowledge and useful wisdom to my craft. I have a few videos, I'm just starting woodworking and I find it breathtaking and meditative. Thank you once again sir.

[@orelygarcia]

Thats the first time I see a French Polissoir in use. Thanks for sharing, thumbs up.

[@michaelbarrett1914]

I love both the finishes you are making and your burnished.

[@joenadeau4419]

Great information here, thanks for sharing your vast knowledge.

[@wesleyyoung4063]

@RexKrueger This seems like a the perfect topic that you have yet to cover.

[@Blackrain4xmas]

Hey! That was pretty cool! I'm gonna give that a try. Nice video-thanks

[@AndreaArzensek]

The camera doesn't do it justice. This is a beautiful finish to see live!

[@robertbrunston5406]

Thanks

[@brianmiller9365]

Outstanding. I'm a finisher myself since '82 or so and this is great. I've read about it a little but never really looked into it. Great to see it for real. Thanks. I'll be checking out the rest of the tour and Don's website. Just recently subbed here or I would have missed this.

[@ebbios]

Brian Miller Hello sir. Can I know what exactly is a finisher? Are finishers the one who finishes a woodworking product with paint, pastewax, shellac and etc? Or is the term represent other things?

[@brianmiller9365]

I apply the coatings after the project is created or built. Anything from cabinets, furniture, staircases, custom panel walls in homes or offices or even floors. Can range anywhere from a huge variety of different paint types to shellac, lacquer, various tung or linseed oils or epoxies. All depends on customer preference and application of end product.

[@ebbios]

Ahhh...I see. Thank you sir for the explaination. I do woodworking for hobby so I am interested with many things related to woodworking. I never thought there is a professional finisher craftsman since usually I and my friends did everything on our own from building to finishing.

[@livewiya]

What I struggle to understand is when to use a dry pollisoir and when to use a wax saturated one? If it's not dry, do you get less of the fiber crushing? I've made my first pollisoir but I'm debating if I soak it in beeswax or not.

[@JustiaFiat]

Hello,
Is the Mels wax advertised as being a shellac wax and beeswax mixture the one containing stoddard solvent and paraloid? I'm interested in the product, but it's quite the difference if it's a wax based finish or a acrylic resin + wax finish

[@JRoperto]

Thanks for the video. By chance do you know grit sandpaper was used?

[@WoodAndShop]

Probably 220.

[@scottwebb3808]

Can this method be used on stained wood?

[@ManiKais]

Would the burnishing make the wax finish more durable? Will burnishing without wax still be to some degree water-repellant?

[@kevinkiesel4937]

Will the wax melt off on hot days?

[@HondoTrailside]

Not really, the layer of way one uses in a burnished finish is extremely thin. Almost a molecular layer in some cases.

[@cajunfid]

I still can't find a reasonable source for shellac wax that doesn't want to sell me 50 lbs or charge 20 dollars per lb.

[@TheMirelyght]

so thats 110 a lb...looks like he should be happy with 20 dollars a lb lol.

[@Aaron-et2tx]

What is the intro song? I know the melody but the lyrics escape me.

[@padrigleamhnach]

It's "Hard Times Come Again No More", by Stephen Foster.

[@jasonamoscomedy]

Dumb question of the day: why use the burnish tool instead of applying the wax with a rag or by hand? Does it press it deeper and thats why? Or is it a friction thing?

[@WoodAndShop]

It polishes the wood to a sheen

[@SuppressiveFire77]

I seen that guy before! I think the strip club! 😂

[@tonyennis3008]

Was he on a pole?

[@rogerscottcathey]

could have used better camera angle and close ups. too much glare at that vantage point. going to check out your product. tx