AFAIK, the technique of burnishing with a polissoirwas not one used on Mid
Century furniture.

Having said that, I have done some work using the polissoir on wood, and find
that the effect ( early wood texturally sepaarted from the late wood) is
more effective on soft wood species... cedar, pine or even oak versus ebony or
purpleheart. for example.� Padauk is a hard wood, and I suspect the
results of burnishing it will be not enough to get a significant textural finish
difference.

Now if all you want is a really SMOOTH finish, use more sandpaper ( go to 320,
wet the wood, start again at 220 and go to 600) or plane it super well.
Try the burnishing using a stiff rag.� That should give that kind of finish...

BTW, Padauk is one of those woods that changes color when it oxidizes.� If you
sand it, it WILL change color.� On an old piece, one that is oxidized
over time, you may make a LOT of work for yourself in needing to re-sand the
entire bookshelf.

Frank Filippone
BMWRed735i@G...