The hated Pledge!

Most of my work is in refinishing rather than restoration, so I usually take my work down to bare wood. The primary problem I have is with the presence of silicone permeating the wood. What happens is finish will not stick to the silicone in the pores of the wood, leaving nasty fisheyes. Over the years I have read about a number of ways of solving the problem, so before anyone suggests it....yes I have tried Wilbond, lacquer thinner, naptha, acetone, etc. All the sure cures guarrenteed to work! The only thing I find that works is to seal every piece I do with shellac after staining.

Right now I am dealing with two tables loaded the with that garbage Pledge. My sealer coat must have been too thin because when I put on the final finish fisheyes popped out everywhere! I had to reseal with shellac again and proceed. The only other option was to re-strip, resand, restain, and reseal.

This message was not intended to ask for suggestions although new ideas will be gratefully accepted! This is rather a warning about Pledge. Advertising claims it cleans, shines, and protects. A damp cloth (water), cleans just as well. It does shine but wihin 12 hours that shine is gone. As far as protection is concerned I imagine they have some kind of wax in it, but not much. I tell customers to throw away their Pledge, dampen a cloth with water, wipe and dry the piece, and if they want more protection use a good paste wax made for wood. Have pity on us poor refinishers people. Quit using that damned Pledge!!!!!!!!!