Woodworker's Journal 2010-34-1, страница 22

Woodturnin

Friction Polish — Fast and Friendly

By Rob Johnstone

Sometimes, a product that works too quickly sacrifices quality. In the case of friction polish on the lathe, a fast finish is a fine finish.

The author applies his liquid friction polish to a spinning maple bowl. As the friction spreads and polishes the & product, a smooth, shiny finish * begins to appear.

just can't deny it — I am an instant gratification sort of woodworker. So, when I am looking for a clear finish on my turned pieces — and I predominantly turn bowls — I almost always reach for a friction polish. They are easy to apply, build up quickly and look great.

What's a Friction Polish?

A friction polish is designed to be applied to wood and then burnished to make the product flow — to be smoothed out over the prepared surface. Burnishing (rubbing vigorously with a cloth or piece of ultra-fine steel wool) can be hard work on a flat piece of wood. But it's pretty easy if the wood is spinning on a lathe. For that

reason, friction polish is a real favorite for turners. Common formulas for friction polish feature a combination of shellac and a wax of some type. They can be formulated in a liquid or found in bar form — like the widely used HUT™ Products Bar.

Just Do It

There are a couple of ways to apply a liquid friction polish. You can wipe on a light coat while the piece is stationary on the lathe (or off of the tool), then spin the piece and use a cloth dampened with the polish to smooth out and flow the finish evenly across the piece. This is an instance where light applications are better than heavy coats.

As a "plunge right in there" type, I prefer the second method: applying the finish with a soft cloth right to the spinning bowl. I use a moderately fast speed and just wipe it on. I like to have a strong directional light aimed at the piece, so I can see the change as I apply the product.

Different brands of friction polish vary a bit as to the proper mode of application — so read their instructions and experiment in order to get

your best results.

P

Friction polishes are a woodturner's secret weapon when it comes to a fast, beautiful finish. They work well on natural (clear finish) or stained wood.

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February 2010 Woodworker's Journal