Japanese polishing method

[Don Schwartz]

At about 35 secs into this video, the turner applies a shaped solid material to a finished bowl, presumably an abrasive meant to polish the surface. Any suggestion as to what he using?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Y-ysUp7Ng

Don

 

[Webb Willmott]

Looks like carnauba wax.

 

[Mike Novak]

Shellac sticks?

 

[Don Schwartz]

Looks like carnauba wax.

Yes. If I had waited longer, I would have known that. Thing is that it is darker than any carnauba I've seen before.

 

[Neil S]

Looks like carnauba wax.

Yes, carnauba wax. I use it as an ingredient in my finish, but not last like that on top as I'm not after such a high polish

 

[Steve Tiedman]

If it is carnuba... I have a block of carnuba, and it is rock hard. And it has the highest melting point of all waxes at right about 180F degrees. That is probably why he chooses to apply the block to the spinning wood, so the heat of friction melts the wax.

I'd be concerned about the possibility of scratching the wood by rubbing the block of hard wax on it.

 

[Bill Blasic]

At 35 seconds he is using a liquid, could be anything.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

To heck with the wax, I love the lathe. Keep watching.

Where are those O1 steel hook tools Alan Lacer taught me to make...?

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Keep watching.

16:05, the subtitle states it is carnuba wax.

Such simplicity and elegance in his process and equipment. Well, except for the line shaft...

 

[Webb Willmott]

It is carnauba wax and at about the 16:00 mark, it’s in the subtitle. I would guess the liquid is an oil. Applied and then excess wiped off.

His mastery with a simple scraper was impressive. Just goes to show you don’t need all those fancy gouges and carbide scrapers.