"LRod" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 24 Feb 2004 22:46:05 GMT, "Mike Hide"
wrote:

Ok now I have added a couple of pieces I french polished ,just to prove I
have not always been enamored with laquer.

In my opinion french polish is unsurpassed as far as a finish is
concerned,
however it is fragile and temperamental because the application
technique
takes time and patience to perfect.
Laquer is a far more forgiving and thus is a preferred finish because of
its
capability to absorb abuse, it seals the wood effectively and provides
excellent protection to it.

The trick is to find a way to make a laquer finish to look for all
intents
and purposes like a french polish finish

Still and all, and the entire point of my displeasure with the railing
against Norm's choice of finishes, it's all a matter of what YOU like
to do, are comfortable doing, and have the means to do. It's also a
matter of personal taste as well as, as you mentioned, functionality.
No one finish can possibly meet all of those requirements. Some may be
more desirable than others, some may even have more of a cachet than
others, but at the end of the day each choice of finish is a
legitimate choice from the standpoint of the craftsman. Anyone else's
opinion doesn't mean spit and it isn't a measure of the worth of the
craftsman.

Well I must admit I agree with you. If the craftsman wishes and likes an
inferior finish thats up to the individual. apparently Norms choice of
finishes was that a mahogany stain was too red so he used a walnut stain .I
wonder which of the hundreds of mahogany stains he was referring to.Of
course you and I realize a stain is not a finish, just a colorant anyway.
And I agree with you no one finish can possibly meet all reqirements
,however laquer meets most ,can you suggest one that does meet those
requirements better ? I have not found it, perhaps you can enlighten me .

As I said earlier however well a piece is designed or built if the finish is
crap so is the piece ....mjh



- -
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net