Antique chair carvings (ball/claw feet, chair crest rails, knee carvings, etc) seem to have their mahogany pores filled, like in the crest rail ears and shell on this chippendale side chair, https://www.diplomaticrooms.state.gov/objects/chippendale-carved-mahogany-chair/.
How would a modern carver do this? Working w/ African mahogany, with even more open pores than Honduran, seems to necessitate some kind of pore filler besides 10-12 coats of shellac build. I’m trying Aqua Coat, but curious as to what others carvers have done to not have their carvings upstaged by open grain.
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Layers and layers and layers of rubbed in shellac.
Thanks John; have you done this yourself on carvings? it sounds a bit like french polishing without the pumice, which could work, albeit take forever and possibly damage my details.
I use a small sable brush that I use as my “fingers” in a French polish. Start by brushing on a 3 lb cut and allow to dry. Doesn’t have to be overnight just dry to the touch. Load the brush with oil, wipe off, wet with alcohol and add a smidge of pumice. Use this tool to work over the surface. Repeat the process. Add a little black to the shellac to “dirty” up the crevices. Eventually you will get the look you’re after. I call this French polishing with a brush.
Great idea John! That sounds much better than sprinkling pumice between shellac coats and rubbing out my crisp edges w/ a pad, which I tried with mixed results.
Found your video on the subject too, thanks so much! https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/finishing/french-polishing-carved-details