LACQUER FOR LEATHER. 153 



of New York, whose researches upon this subject have been 

 extensive, proposes an economical mode of bleaching this es- 

 sence, which he has patented. 



Dammara Resin. — Dulk (Pharm, Cent. Blatt, 1847), who 

 examined this resin, found that it fuses at 165° F. and leaves 

 3.9 per cent, of ash. It is nearly insoluble in alcohol, potassa, 

 and ammonia, but is taken up entirely by strong sulphuric 

 acid and the fatty oils. Its proximate constituents are dam- 

 maryl C^gHas, forming 13.5 per cent., soluble in ether ; alpha- 

 resin C^gHggO^, 24.5 per cent., soluble in dilute alcohol and not 

 separating on cooling ; heta-resin, 10.5 per cent., soluble in 

 hot dilute alcohol and depositing on cooling ; gamma-resin, 

 or dammarylic acid C^gllggOg, 44 per cent., dissolved by ab- 

 solute alcohol; and epsilon-resin 2 (C4gH33) + H0 = 7.5 per 

 cent. 



Crold Lacquer. — 3 oz. seed-lac, 1 oz. yellow amber, 1 oz. 

 gamboge, 40 gr. red-wood, 18 gr. saffron, 30 gr. dragon's 

 blood, 3 oz. pounded glass, 20 oz. alcohol. The powdered 

 substances are dissolved in the alcohol on a sand-bath. The 

 articles should receive two or three coatings, and be dried by 

 a gentle warmth. (Mannheim. Gewerbvereinsbl. 1847, 14.) A 

 collection of recipes for gold lacquer will be found in the 

 Polytech. Centralblatt, and the Polytech. Notizblatt for 1846. 



Copal Varnish. — See an essay on the different kinds of 

 copal and their behavior to solvents, in Lond. Journ. xxxvi. 

 194. 



Brilliant Lacquer for Leather. — Over 4 oz. shellac and 

 J oz. lampblack in a stoneware vessel, pour l^ft) alcohol (of 

 80 per cent.), and cover it with a moist bladder. After stand- 

 ing in the cold 24 hours, during which it is often shaken, the 

 bladder is punctured by a needle, the jar put in hot water, 

 frequently shaken, and ^ oz. Venice terpentine added. The 

 lacquer is shaken when used. (Polytech. Notizbl. 1846, 48.) 

 It is recommended as a good varnish for boots, not affect- 

 ing the leather ; but repeated applications would tend to 

 crack the leather, from the want of sufficient flexibility in the 

 coating. 



