I know some have used this as a rubbing type compound for Lacquer or varnish finish when restoring bamboo fly rods.
I can't seem to find a application How To for bamboo rod restoration.
I have found where you my use water or different oils for a lubricant when rubbing.
is it always done by hand and not on a wheel.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,Mike

Rottenstone and oil,,, BY HAND.... lots of elbow grease. End product is well worth the effort, if the varnish job was good in the first place.. you can actually "move" small sags around when you are polishing with it.

Which oil are you using,Art, linseed? Or another? Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

Ralph,

The times I've used rottenstone on the finish of my rods, I've made a slurry using danish oil. Mix in the rottenstone till the consistency is like sloppy paste. A soft cotton cloth is what I normally use when rubbing out the finish with the rottenstone/danish oil mix. And yes, it does take a bit of elbow grease.

Mark

Mike,
Rottenstone is a grey coloured, fine powder that acts as an abrasive in the polishing of finishes such as varnish.
As others have said, a lubricant must be used.
Water, or better yet paraffin oil is recommended.
Rottenstone comes in different grades (particle size) .
The finer grade is used for final polishing .
Hope this helps.
Eden

What do you think I should use to just bring back the luster and cut 40 years of use?
other than the guides it looks to be in GOOD shape.
one supply house I found said water was to be used for the quickest cutting results.Should I try Danish oil or the Paraffin oil?

I am also trying to make this a helpful thread for someone in the future.Any help and full application ideas are greatly appreciated.
That same site said cut up an old felt hat {I guess you could use a NEW one} to use as an applicator.
Thanks,Mike

Mike,

If the varnish is still in pretty good shape, but has lost it's luster, head down to your local auto body repair supply store and pick up a bottle of 3M Finesse-it II. It's a polish the the auto body guys use to get a really nice finish on the base coat/clear coat paint systems, but it works really well on the varnish and polyurethane finishes we use on cane rods. I use it on just about every cane rod I make, since there are always little imperfections that show up from the application of the finish. I usually sand out the blemish with 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper, and follow it up with the Finesse-it II, and you can't see that there's ever been any sanding on the finish. It does take a little elbow grease to polish it out, but you'll be pleased with the luster after you're done.

Titelines,
Mark

Mike,
I am not familiar with Finesse -it, but any of the fine abrasives used for final polishing should work on varnish.
If you do use rottenstone, paraffin oil rather than water would be the best lubricant.
I have never used Danish oil, but in effect you would be applying a thin coat of this oil finish on top of the old varnish, which may or may not be what you want.
A soft lint free cloth should be used for application of the rottenstone/ paraffin oil slurry (an old felt hat would no doubt work well) and as has been said polishing is done by hand.
Good luck.
Eden

Mike,
I use Camelia (sp) oil when I stir up a batch of the rotten stone slurry. The polishing in my opinion is best done by hand. With a polishing cloth or felt you can still miss the small sags and blemishes that you might not feel with a cloth. The end result is DEFINATELY worth it. I polish both on final polishing (finished rod) and after I complete just the blank after I have applied a hand rubbed finish. Not to do any name dropping but the good fellas at golden witch are the only ones I know that supply the Camelia oil.
Just another opinion,
Kyle

Kyle,
What you are saying is ,just use your fingers to do the rubbing?No applicator,right?
Mike

Exactly, no cloths or felts just your finger tips and the rotten stone/oil slurry
Have Fun,
Kyle

Oh, after you've worked the rod for a while with the slurry you will rub most of it off or away with your hands, if your pleased with how things look then u can take a paper towel or something of the like and wipe the remnants of the slurry away.