After thinking it through a bit more, and doing a little research and
checking my organic chemistry books, I think I need to clarify and
correct some of my original remarks.  As D.L. Bullock pointed out,
Formby's is rather expensive.  When I used the term "French polish"
I was thinking more of the rubbing technique rather than the finish
formula.

I have used the shellac/methanol/linseed oil (or even with other oils
such as tung oil and sesame oil) method in the past, but the Formby's
formula seems to work differently.  Since it has toluene, as well as
methanol and ketones in it, I believe it essentially acts as a solvent
for the old shellac, lacquer or varnish, and the rubbing redistributes
the original finish rather than putting on or combining it with a new
finish.  It works over areas of chipped off finish.  The toluene in
particular would make it more toxic to use.  Toluene ain't good for
you.  It is highly regulated by OSHA in medical laboratories.

I'm most familiar with it as a medical technologist, since it is used
as part of the process of preparing tissue that is rehydrated from the
preservative (alcohols or formalin), then put in paraffin blocks for
microtome cutting for slides for microscopic examination.  If I remember
correctly, the toluene is used after the micro-cuttings are put on the
slides to dissolve the paraffin without effecting the hydration.  It's
been a long time since I worked in the histology section of a
laboratory, however.

"French polishing" is indeed a lot of non-stop work, whatever kind of
pad or rubber you use.  I'm rather perverse because I enjoy doing it,
but also like the results.  There are easier ways of refinishing, but
this is one that appears to preserve and smooth out the original
finish, if the original finish is important to the restoration.

Patty Slayton
Moore, ID  USA