Techniques for Hand-Buffing High-Gloss Wood Finishing Stair Handrails

Learn the relationship between finish types and gloss. Some wood finishes can be rubbed and buffed to a high gloss more easily than others. Those that form a hard, brittle surface when dried, such as solvent- or water-based lacquers and shellac, can be easily buffed to a glossy finish. Those that form soft or flexible layers when dried, such as oil-based lacquers or other oil-based finishes, are much harder to polish to a glossy finish. If you have an oil-based finish on your handrail, you may be better off striving for a satin finish after buffing instead.

Choose an appropriate abrasive. Traditional abrasives used for rubbing wood finishes to a gloss include pumice powder and rottenstone -- decomposed limestone powder -- both of which are soft, fine abrasives. Rottenstone powder is softer and finer than pumice. To use these, mix the powder of your choice with mineral oil to form a slurry and apply to the wood with a soft cloth. Synthetic abrasives for woodworking and fine-grit sandpaper can also be used.

Use a gentle touch. When rubbing the wood, work gently. Use small, circular motions and be sure to cover all areas evenly. Be careful around edges and corners, where the finish may be thinner than in other areas – marks left if you accidentally rub off a layer of the finish are difficult or impossible to remove. For irregularly shaped areas such as carvings and turned legs, use a piece of fine-grit wet/dry sandpaper wrapped around a rubber tadpole, which can fit into and around curved spaces. Be especially careful not to over-rub when working carved areas, since this may damage the finish and dull the features of the carvings. If you need to do a second pass over the handrail to get the gloss you want, use a finer abrasive and a lighter touch.

Finish with a final buffing. After the handrail finish has been rubbed to the shine you want, buff it thoroughly with a piece of lambs' wool, felt or other soft cloth, using small, circular motions.