arid the Application of it to Jlained Wood. 235 



kinds of wood, after it has been well poliftied, may be ftained 

 of different colours, and then done over with linfeed oil and 

 amber varnifh. 



As my principal view, however, was to try in what 

 manner different kinds of wood could be ftained fo as to re- 

 tain their colour longeft, and in what manner mahogany 

 could be beft imitated, I applied fuch a compofition as I 

 thought would beft anfwer the purpofe on the twelve follow- 

 ing kinds of wood; vix. elm, oak, red and white beech, 

 maple, pear-tree, wild hawthorn, white beam-tree, afh, 

 alder, birch, and pine. Of thefe, the maple, birch, alder, 

 and white beech, when ftained with a folution of iron, had 

 the greateft refemblance to mahogany. The appearance of 

 the other kinds was various, according to the diverfity of 

 their colour and veins, and according as they were more or 

 lefs porous, and imbibed a greater or lefs quantity of the 

 Ilain. 



The amber varnifli prepared in different places is not al- 

 ways of equal goodnefs. This is owing to two caufes : 

 ift, 1 he carelefs manner in which the an)ber is melted; 

 2d, Becaufe the linfeed oil, being too much or too little 

 boiled, acquires, in a greater or lefs degree, a drying pro- 

 perty. A proof of amber varnifli being good, is, if, when 

 applied on any article in an apartment of the common tem- 

 perature, it becomes dry within from twelve to twenty-four 

 hours. 



By the experiments which I made, I have found that the 

 following procefs for preparing it is the beft -.—Put pounded 

 and fifted amber into a pan of caft iron with a flat bot- 

 tom, and let the amber be fpread out at moft to the thick- 

 nefs of an inch. Place the pan in an upright pofition over 

 an uniform coal fire, and let it remain till the amber fufes 

 and becomes liquid ; then pour it out on a cold plate of 

 copper or iron. When the amber has cooled, break it into 

 pieces; and if it has a bright blackifli-broxvn appearance on 

 the fracture, and weighs about one-half of what it did before 

 being melted, you may be certain that it is proper for the 

 intended purpofe. Particulaf attention muft be paid to this 

 circumftance ; fur, if the amber is fufcd too little, fo that part 



Vol. VII. lib of 



