How to Use Pumice & Rottenstone to Polish Varnish

eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 felt blocks

  • Powdered finest grade pumice (4F or FFFF)

  • Paraffin oil or water

  • Powdered rottenstone

  • Small plastic mixing vessel

  • Cotton work gloves

  • Face mask

  • Soft, clean cloths

  • Furniture cleaner (optional)

Create a satin finish on your woodworking project by buffing and polishing with pumice and rottenstone.

Pumice and rottenstone are natural light abrasives derived from limestone. They are recommended by professional refinishers and woodworkers for polishing varnished surfaces. Use these abrasives as the last step in finishing or refinishing a piece of furniture, or buff with pumice and rottenstone on a regular basis to maintain finished wood surfaces. Pumice and rottenstone are ground and sold in powder form. Your first step is buffing with pumice to remove imperfections and varnish brush strokes. Finish polishing the surface with rottenstone. The result is a lower-gloss, satin finish.

Advertisement

Step 1

Allow newly varnished wood to dry fully. Wear work gloves and face mask.

Video of the Day

Step 2

Wet the surface you are polishing with water or paraffin oil.

Step 3

Sprinkle pumice onto the surface. Use a felt block to rub the pumice in the same direction as the wood grain with long, even strokes.

Advertisement

Step 4

Keep the pumice moist by sprinkling additional water or oil onto the surface as necessary. Make sure to wet each section of the surface as you start working on it and before you sprinkle pumice and begin buffing.

Step 5

Clean the surface with water or a furniture cleaner to remove the pumice. Wipe the surface dry with a soft, dry cloth.

Advertisement

Step 6

Pour some rottenstone into a small mixing vessel. Saturate a fresh felt block with water or paraffin oil.

Step 7

Dip the felt block into the vessel of rottenstone so that the bottom of the block is covered in the powder. Shake off any excess rottenstone that does not adhere to the block.

Advertisement

Step 8

Rub the rottenstone into a small area using six to eight even strokes in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

Step 9

Remove any excess rottenstone with a cloth soaked in water or oil, depending upon which you used to saturate your felt block. Use a clean, soft, dry cloth to dry the area you have polished.

Advertisement

Step 10

Repeat Steps 7 through 9 until you have wet-polished the entire surface.

Step 11

Lightly sprinkle rottenstone onto the surface for a final, dry rottenstone polish. Use a fresh felt block to rub it into the surface with long, even strokes in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

Advertisement

Step 12

Remove any rottenstone dust from the surface with a clean, dry cloth. Clean the surface with a reliable furniture cleaner according to manufacturer's directions to remove any remaining dust, if necessary.

Tip

Water or oil can be used for buffing with rottenstone and pumice on most varnished surfaces. Water will produce a higher-gloss finish.

Warning

Do not use water for buffing if the surface is shellacked rather than varnished.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

references