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I've seen some really nice shellac finishes which have been applied by French Polishing and I'm wondering if anybody uses a buffing wheel to finish them off? I know you can get great results from just using the FP technique, but it seems if you were careful with the buffer and the thin finish, you might be able to decrease the elbow grease used in FP and speed things up with a buffing wheel. Has anybody ever tried it?

Indeed yes, gently with a foam wheel and Meguires H4. You need to be really careful not to let the pad generate heat.
Even though I do a final glazing with very thinned polish and a dry pad, buffing takes the hard glossy shine to a softer sheen.
I follow with hand rubbing fine cut Meguires (H2) and lastly with the H7.

I've buffed with Menzerna and finished with Meguiar's Swirl Remover. It's not quite as beautiful as just FP since you are adding very fine scratches but it looks pretty good if your FP skills aren't up to speed.

_________________
Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

yep, wet sand w/ soapy water to 2000g w/ 3m Imperial, then buff on 16' wheels w/ Menzerna18,16. be patient and thorough w/ the 18. I'll try to post a pic soon.

FWW had an article a while back, about how to use a ROS, or a power sander, anyway, to apply and buff out FP. I didn't really read it that carefully at the time. Anyone try that? Mostly would only work on the flat parts I guess. And other than the back, not sure how that would work.

Sure, I've done it for years with violin varnish on mandolins and that's even softer than shellac. I wet sand the day after I shoot the last coat, and then when I get it down to 2000 grit I let is sit for a few days. Then I wet sand to 8000 grit. I let that sit for a week, then buff with Menzerna. It's touchy, but can be done. It's a little scratchy at first, but with shellac or varnish there is so much shrinkage over time that after 3 months it's pretty dang shiny. Mandolins are different though as folks WANT the grain to show.
You can't lean into the buffer at all or you burn the finish...