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Does rottenstone have the same application as pumice with regards to pore filling during the French Polishing schedule? Can't seem to input the right question into Google tonight , so I thought I'd ask here. I know both compounds have abrasive qualities.

Thanks in advance.

When used as a polishing agent Rottenstone is finer-resulting in a glossier finish.
Don't know about it's FP filling abilities.
I'd go with the old standard (Pumice) for FP purposes.
http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/catalog ... ?ictNbr=37
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Like Chas says, its the same stuff, just finer grit.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
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I could be way off here, but it was my understanding that Rottenstone was more for polishing. Where Pumice is for Pore filling.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Rottenstone and pumice are not the same thing. Yes, they are both abrasives, but not the same material. Rottenstone is a very fine polishing agent, but it does not clear like pumice. As a matter of fact, when i have used it, it pretty much makes a black mess. It polishes great, but looks like you are doing it with used motor oil.

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Waddy

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Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Rottenstone is light gray and I've always experienced it as staying gray and working quite nicely as a polishing agent along with a light oil as a carrier. I've used it for almost 40 years without it getting black and messy. Are you sure you used rottenstone? But as you say rottenstone is a finer polish. Not to be completely contrary...

I may have used too much powder and not enough oil. My main point was that it does not go clear like pumice.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

No Sam not the same thing, different application. I always use rottenstone (in oil) to polish oil finishes to a nice lustre though, it's my favourite polish and produces a really smooth look. A small bag of the Liberon rottenstone from Axminster will last a lifetime!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Funny, armed with this info I went into a bespoke store today and enquired about their traditional finish supplies. The assistant was trying to sell me rottenstone as the replacement for pumice! Thanks to this thread I was able to set her straight... Righto, Touchstone Tonewoods, here I come...