Polishes & Sealers

French Polishes, Shellac Sealers and Knotting Solutions

Shop traditional French polishes, shellac finishes, sanding sealer and knotting solution for furniture restoration, cabinet making, timber preparation and fine wood finishing.

Livedale supplies shellac-based furniture polishes in pale, transparent, golden-brown and darker garnet shades, together with specialist products for sealing wood dyes, preparing timber for waxing and preventing resin from bleeding through painted finishes.

These products may also be described as:

• French-polishing products
• Shellac furniture polish
• Traditional wood polish
• Cabinet-makers’ polish
• Furniture finishing polish
• Shellac wood sealer
• Sanding sealer
• Knotting solution
• Wood-resin sealer
• Traditional furniture-restoration finishes

The correct polish or sealer depends on the timber colour, existing finish, required depth of colour and whether the product is being used for polishing, sealing or preparation.

Shop Furniture Polishes and Wood Sealers

The range includes:

• Standard French polish for previously shellac-finished furniture
• Golden-brown button polish for darker timber
• Rich garnet polish for deeper colour
• Heat-resistant pale polish with improved hardness and water resistance
• Special white polish for minimal colour change
• Transparent shellac polish with a slight amber tint
• Shellac sanding sealer for timber, wax and wood dyes
• Knotting solution for knots and resinous timber

Traditional French Polish for Furniture Restoration

French Polish for Antique and Fine Furniture

The Traditional French Polish for Antique and Fine Furniture – 250ml to 5 Litres is suitable for maintaining and restoring furniture previously finished with shellac-based products.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre
• 5 litres

French polish is traditionally used on:

• Antique furniture
• Fine cabinets
• Tables and chairs
• Desks and bureaux
• Decorative timber
• Period furniture
• Musical-instrument cases
• Traditional joinery
• Previously shellac-polished surfaces

French polish may also be known as:

• Shellac polish
• Cabinet polish
• Traditional furniture polish
• Hand-applied wood polish
• French-polishing finish

It is normally applied in thin layers using a polishing rubber or suitable lint-free application pad.

The completed finish can provide clarity, warmth and depth while allowing the natural grain of the timber to remain visible.

Button Polish for Warm Golden-Brown Furniture Finishes

The Golden-Brown Button Polish for Darker Timber – 250ml to 5 Litres is warmer and more golden-brown than standard French polish.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre
• 5 litres

Button polish may suit:

• Mahogany
• Walnut
• Dark oak
• Antique furniture
• Traditional cabinets
• Period tables and chairs
• Reproduction furniture
• Timber requiring additional warmth

The golden-brown colouring helps enrich slightly darker woods and can add greater warmth than a pale or transparent shellac finish.

Button polish may also be described as:

• Golden shellac polish
• Brown French polish
• Button shellac finish
• Warm furniture polish
• Dark-timber shellac polish

Test the polish on a concealed area or prepared timber sample before treating the complete item, as the existing timber and stain will influence the final colour.

Garnet Polish for Deep, Rich Wood Colour

The Dark Garnet French Polish for Rich Furniture Colour – 250ml to 1 Litre is a darker shellac polish designed to add depth and richness to suitable timber.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre

Garnet polish may suit:

• Dark mahogany
• Walnut
• Dark oak
• Rosewood-style finishes
• Period furniture
• Antique cabinets
• Traditional dining furniture
• Timber requiring a deep brown tone

It may also be known as:

• Dark French polish
• Garnet shellac polish
• Deep-colour furniture polish
• Dark cabinet polish
• Traditional dark shellac

Because garnet polish adds a noticeable amount of colour, it should be applied gradually and tested carefully on light or newly repaired timber.

Heat-Resistant Pale French Polish

The Heat-Resistant Pale French Polish – 250ml to 1 Litre is a modified French polish formulated to provide increased hardness, heat resistance and water resistance.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre

The polish is supplied ready for use but can be thinned with methylated spirit where appropriate.

Potential applications include:

• Tables
• Cabinets
• Sideboards
• Dining furniture
• Pale and medium-coloured timber
• Furniture exposed to regular handling
• Restoration requiring a more resistant shellac finish

This product may also be described as:

• Heat-resistant shellac polish
• Water-resistant French polish
• Hard-wearing pale polish
• Modified furniture polish
• Pale protective shellac finish

Although it provides improved resistance compared with a standard traditional polish, hot objects, standing water and spills should still be removed promptly from finished furniture.

Special White Polish for Pale Timber

The Special White French Polish for Pale Wood – 250ml to 1 Litre is made from bleached button shellac and is designed for applications where little or no change to the timber colour is required.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre

Special white polish may be suitable for:

• Pale furniture
• Light oak
• Ash
• Beech
• Maple
• Sycamore
• Light-coloured cabinets
• Decorative pale timber
• Furniture where amber colouring should be minimised

It may also be described as:

• Bleached shellac polish
• Pale French polish
• White shellac polish
• Clear polish for light wood
• Minimal-colour furniture polish

The polish is particularly useful where a darker button, garnet or traditional shellac would change the intended appearance of the wood.

A test application remains important because even a very pale finish can slightly alter the depth and appearance of prepared timber.

Transparent Shellac Polish and Hardwood Sealer

The Transparent Shellac Furniture Polish and Dense-Hardwood Sealer – 250ml to 5 Litres has self-levelling properties and retains a slight amber tint after application.

Available sizes include:

• 250ml
• 500ml
• 1 litre
• 5 litres

Transparent shellac polish may be used for:

• Furniture polishing
• Cabinet work
• General shellac finishing
• Dense hardwoods
• Decorative timber
• Traditional furniture restoration
• Sealing suitable wood before further finishing

It may also be described as:

• Transparent French polish
• Clear shellac polish
• Amber shellac finish
• Hardwood shellac sealer
• Self-levelling furniture polish

Although described as transparent, the slight amber tint can warm pale timber and deepen the appearance of wood stains.

Prepare a finished sample where colour accuracy is important.

Shellac Sanding Sealer

The Shellac Sanding Sealer for Wood, Wax and Wood Dyes – 500ml or 1 Litre is manufactured from pure shellac and alcohol with an additive that helps the dried coating sand more easily.

Available sizes include:

• 500ml
• 1 litre

It may be used to:

• Seal prepared timber
• Reduce uneven absorption
• Prepare wood before waxing
• Seal suitable wood dyes
• Help prevent stained colour from bleeding
• Bind loose surface fibres
• Create a smoother foundation for compatible finishes
• Improve preparation between finishing stages

Shellac sanding sealer may also be known as:

• Furniture sanding sealer
• Shellac wood sealer
• Cabinet sanding sealer
• Wood-dye sealer
• Pre-wax timber sealer
• French-polishing sealer

Once dry, the sealer can be lightly sanded to create a smoother surface before applying compatible wax, polish or another suitable finishing product.

Knotting Sealer for Knots and Resinous Timber

The Knotting Sealer Solution for Knots and Resinous Wood – 125ml or 300ml is designed to seal knots, resinous timber and suitable creosoted wood before painting.

Available sizes include:

• 125ml
• 300ml

Knotting solution helps prevent natural resin and staining from bleeding through the completed paint film.

Potential applications include:

• Pine furniture
• Softwood doors
• Timber mouldings
• Furniture frames
• Skirting and joinery
• New softwood components
• Wood containing visible knots
• Resinous timber being prepared for painting

It may also be known as:

• Knotting solution
• Shellac knot sealer
• Wood-resin sealer
• Knot blocker
• Resin-blocking primer
• Shellac-based stain blocker

Sand the timber smooth before applying the knotting solution.

Apply it liberally across the knot and the immediately surrounding area. Do not sand the knotting solution after application.

Resinous or creosoted timber should be sealed completely with two coats. Allow approximately one hour for drying before applying a suitable primer.

Brushes used with knotting solution can be cleaned using methylated spirit.

Choosing the Correct French Polish Colour

Choose standard French polish where:

• Previously shellac-finished furniture is being maintained
• A traditional general-purpose furniture polish is required
• Antique or fine furniture needs restoring
• A moderate warm tone is acceptable

Choose button polish where:

• A warm golden-brown finish is required
• Slightly darker timber is being polished
• Mahogany, walnut or traditional furniture needs enriching

Choose garnet polish where:

• A much deeper and darker colour is required
• Period furniture needs greater depth
• Dark mahogany, walnut or oak is being finished

Choose special white polish where:

• The timber is very pale
• Minimal colour change is required
• A bleached shellac finish is preferred

Choose transparent shellac polish where:

• A relatively clear finish with a slight amber tint is suitable
• Self-levelling properties are useful
• Dense hardwood needs sealing

Choose heat-resistant pale polish where:

• A pale finish is required
• Increased hardness is useful
• Improved resistance to heat and water is preferred

French Polish or Shellac Sanding Sealer?

French polish is primarily used to build the visible finished surface.

Shellac sanding sealer is used as a preparatory layer that can be sanded before the final finish is applied.

Choose French polish where:

• The polished shellac surface is the final finish
• Depth, clarity and sheen are required
• Previously polished furniture is being maintained
• Traditional French-polishing techniques are being used

Choose shellac sanding sealer where:

• Bare wood needs sealing
• Wood dye must be isolated before further finishing
• The grain needs preparing before waxing
• A sandable foundation is required

Sanding sealer should not automatically replace the final polish where a completed French-polished surface is required.

Shellac Polish or Furniture Lacquer?

Choose shellac polish where:

• A traditional hand-applied finish is required
• Antique or period furniture is being restored
• Warmth and depth are important
• Future traditional repairability is valuable

Choose Fast-Drying AC Furniture Lacquer where:

• A professional spray-applied finish is required
• Greater abrasion and chemical resistance are needed
• A consistent production sheen is important
• Furniture is being manufactured or professionally refinished

Shellac and acid-catalyst lacquer are different finishing systems and should not be combined without confirming compatibility.

Shellac Polish or Wood Oil?

Choose shellac polish where:

• A defined polished surface is required
• Fine furniture or antique timber is being restored
• A traditional cabinet finish is preferred
• The grain should have clarity and depth

Choose Furniture and Wood-Finishing Oils where:

• A penetrative finish is preferred
• A natural low-lustre appearance is required
• Straightforward future maintenance is important
• The timber and intended use are suitable for oil

Oil should not be applied over an existing shellac film unless the complete finishing system has been tested and confirmed as suitable.

Preparing Timber for French Polishing

The surface should be clean, dry, smooth and free from contamination.

A typical preparation process may include:

1. Identifying the existing finish.
2. Cleaning away wax, grease and dirt.
3. Removing incompatible coatings where necessary.
4. Repairing cracks, holes and damaged timber.
5. Sanding the surface evenly.
6. Filling open grain where required.
7. Removing all sanding dust.
8. Applying wood stain where appropriate.
9. Sealing the colour if required.
10. Testing the complete polishing system.

Browse:

• Paint Strippers, Thinners and Spirits
• Wood Fillers, Waxes and Touch-Up Repairs
• Steel Wool and Furniture Abrasives
• Woodcare Cloths and Tack Rags

Wax, silicone, grease and old polish residue can affect adhesion and prevent an even finish.

Applying French Polish

French polish is traditionally applied using a polishing rubber made from a suitable absorbent inner material covered with clean lint-free cloth.

A typical process may involve:

1. Preparing and sealing the timber.
2. Filling the polishing rubber with a controlled amount of polish.
3. Testing the rubber on a separate surface.
4. Applying thin coats with smooth overlapping movements.
5. Avoiding heavy pools and stationary contact.
6. Allowing each stage to dry.
7. Building the polish gradually.
8. Cutting back lightly where required.
9. Continuing until the desired depth is achieved.
10. Allowing the completed finish to harden before use.

Raw linseed oil may be used sparingly as a lubricant during suitable traditional French-polishing work.

Browse Raw Linseed Oil and Furniture Oils for associated wood-finishing products.

Applying Shellac with a Brush

Shellac products may also be applied with a suitable finishing brush where the product and project allow.

Browse Woodcare Brushes for Furniture Restoration for fitch brushes, varnish brushes and detailed touch-up applicators.

When brushing:

• Use a clean compatible brush
• Apply thin and even coats
• Work quickly
• Follow the grain where practical
• Avoid repeatedly brushing material that has started to dry
• Check joints and mouldings for runs
• Keep the surrounding area clean
• Allow the recommended drying time

Alcohol-based shellac dries quickly, so the surface should be approached methodically.

Using Wood Stain Beneath Shellac Polish

Bare timber may be coloured before polishing using a compatible wood stain.

Browse Light-Fast Furniture Wood Stains for alcohol-based stains in traditional furniture shades.

Before treating the complete item:

1. Prepare a timber sample.
2. Apply the chosen stain.
3. Allow it to dry fully.
4. Seal the stain where required.
5. Apply the proposed polish.
6. Assess the colour and clarity.
7. Compare it with the existing furniture.
8. Record the products and method used.

Shellac polish can deepen and warm the appearance of the stain beneath it.

Grain Filling Before French Polishing

Open-grained timber such as oak and mahogany may require grain filling where a smooth polished surface is desired.

Browse Wood Fillers, Grain Fillers and Touch-Up Repairs.

Grain filler helps:

• Level open pores
• Reduce polish sinking into the grain
• Create a smoother surface
• Reduce the number of polishing stages
• Improve clarity across a filled cabinet finish

Allow the filler to dry fully and prepare it carefully before applying stain, sealer or polish.

Cutting Back and De-Nibbing Shellac

Fine abrasive products may be used to smooth dried shellac between finishing stages.

Browse Steel Wool, Wire Wool and Wood-Finishing Abrasives for fine sanding pads, glasspaper and wire wool.

Suitable preparation may include:

• Fine abrasive paper
• Flexible foam-backed pads
• Very fine wire wool where appropriate
• Clean tack rags for dust removal

Use light pressure and avoid cutting through the polish along edges, mouldings and raised details.

Knotting sealer should not be sanded after application.

Maintaining French-Polished Furniture

French-polished furniture should be handled and maintained carefully.

To protect the surface:

• Remove spills promptly
• Avoid placing hot objects directly on the polish
• Use mats and coasters
• Avoid silicone-based sprays
• Dust with a soft clean cloth
• Keep the furniture away from excessive damp
• Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
• Do not use aggressive household cleaners
• Repair small areas before damage spreads

Previously shellac-finished furniture can often be maintained or restored using a compatible French polish rather than completely stripped.

Cleaning Brushes and Application Equipment

Methylated spirit is commonly used for thinning suitable shellac products and cleaning compatible application equipment.

Browse Methylated Spirit, Thinners and Woodcare Solvents.

After use:

1. Remove excess polish.
2. Clean the brush or applicator promptly.
3. Use the recommended solvent.
4. Keep the cleaning container covered.
5. Allow tools to dry safely.
6. Store them away from dust.
7. Keep shellac tools separate from oil and lacquer equipment.

Do not return contaminated polish from an application container to the original bottle.

Safe Use of Shellac Polish and Knotting Solution

Shellac polishes and methylated spirit are flammable and should be handled carefully.

Before use:

• Read the product label and safety information
• Work in a well-ventilated area
• Keep away from flames and sparks
• Do not smoke nearby
• Wear suitable gloves
• Protect the eyes from splashes
• Protect nearby fabric and foam
• Keep containers closed when not in use
• Store products securely
• Dispose of contaminated materials safely

Do not use alcohol-based finishing products near working heaters, pilot lights or other ignition sources.

Trade French Polishes and Shellac Sealers

Livedale supplies French polish, button polish, garnet polish, pale and transparent shellac finishes, sanding sealer and knotting solution to furniture restorers, cabinet makers, French polishers, joiners, manufacturers and training workshops throughout the UK.

The range covers:

• Antique furniture restoration
• Fine cabinet polishing
• Pale and dark timber finishes
• Sealing dense hardwood
• Preparing timber before waxing
• Sealing wood dyes
• Blocking resinous knots before painting
• Professional furniture maintenance

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose the polish or sealer according to the timber colour, existing finish, required resistance and intended finishing process.