THE 
PHTLOSOPHICAL MAGAZINE. 
a 
I. Recipe for an elastic and permanent Varnish for Hats 
or Helmets of Felt, Gaiters, or other Parts of Dress in 
Leather, as Boots and Shoes, and which may be also em- 
ployed with Success in varnishing Cloth and Linen*, 
First Operation. 
I; is necessary, in the first place, to free the hats, or other 
articles of felt, from all the gum which they may contain. 
This may be easily effected by washing them in warm water, 
and afterwards pressing them. Before they are perfectly 
dry, they must be placed on moulds in order that they may 
be preserved in their proper shape, and be without wrinkles, 
—a very essential requisite. New leather, as well as old, 
must be scraped in order to clear its superficies from the 
wax or grease with which it is impregnated. Colophony, 
or resin in powder, laid upon a coarse brush, also removes 
the grease perfectly well. 
Second Operation.—All felt hats have a kind of down or 
nap, of which they must be cleared, when dry, by means 
of pumice-stone; and every part of the hat where the var- 
nish is to be applied must be smoothed in this manner. 
Leather must be smoothed in the same manner also to re- 
move all inequalities, and even the marks of the scraper. 
The same method must he pursued with cloths or linens. 
Third Operation.—Vhe down being removed in the man- 
ner above described, a coat of the black varnish, to be after- 
wards mentioned, must be laid on the articles to be var- 
nished. They must be allowed to dry well upon their moulds, 
that they may not assume any wrinkles, which prevent the 
proper distribution of the varnish. . 
* From Billiothtque Physico-Economique, May 1806. 
Vol. 26. No. 101. Oct, 1806. A Fourth 
