On Mar 8, 11:21*am, Digger wrote:
A question for olhzimers...please try very hard to remember those good
ol' days of great books and hand finishes (careful now!).g

30+ years ago, I used pumice slurry and a polishing compound commonly
called plumber's rouge on select furniture and cabinet finishes. Got
away from woodworking for these many years and just now beginning to
play again.

So, what happened to plumber's rouge and powdered pumice/ rottenstone?
Can't seem to find any of these products anymore. In fact, local Ace
hardware and True Value stores claim that these products are no longer
even available for special order.

What are folks using for polishing compounds these days ...not looking
for hard to find select brands, just something I can purchase locally in
small quantities. Ideally, Would greatly appreciate recommendations for
equivalent substitutes of all three above.

Thanks all,

--
Digger
Bob O'Dell

4F pumice is essential for the initial grain filling stage of
French polishing. Rottenstone is used as an optional
final rub to raise a high gloss. If the local paint store
doesn't stock them, try Woodcraft, or any of the online
luthier's suppliers, such as Stewmac. A 1 lb box should
last you for years.

Plumber's rouge sounds like a compound used to
clean copper pipe fittings before sweating. Would
tripoli be the same thing?

Diatomaceous earth (dead plankton shells) is supposed
to work as an ultrafine compound. Never tried it, but
you can buy 5 lb bags of Safer (tm) brand, sold as
an organic nonchemical insecticide. It doesn't
work as a polish, feed it to the roaches.