<HTML style="FONT-SIZE: x-small; FONT-FAMILY: MS Sans Serif"><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV>Jean-Jacques,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>French Polish is a hand-rubbed finish made with shellac and oil.  It also includes a grain-filling process using pumice with the shellac and oil.  Here's a link to a guitar-maker's website which has a comprehensive how-to article:  <A href="http://www.milburnguitars.com/frenchpolish.html">http://www.milburnguitars.com/frenchpolish.html</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>hope this helps, but it's probably more info than you wanted</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Mike</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt Arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=jjgranas@zigzag.pl href="mailto:jjgranas@zigzag.pl">Jean-Jacques Granas</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To: </B><A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A></DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> 3/20/2004 6:20:58 PM </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> French Polish versus Lacquer </DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><FONT size=2> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Hello,</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>What exactly is French polish? Is this another term for rubbing varnish?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>If not, what are the advantages of this technique and how does it work?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Anyone know?</FONT></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Peace,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Jean-Jacques Granas</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Warsaw, Poland</FONT></DIV></FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>