PAINTS AND VARNISHES 379 



Copal or oil varnish is usually " flowed" on, the brush 

 being dipped deeply and varnish spread in a heavy coat. 

 The surface is then gone over lightly with the brush as free 

 from varnish as possible until the work is left with only a 

 thin coating. Three or four coats are generally applied, time 

 being allowed for each coat to dry before the next one is put 

 on. The first coats are rubbed with haircloth or curled 

 hair. For a dull finish, the last coat is rubbed smooth with 

 powdered pumice-stone and water, and the pumice removed 

 with a damp sponge and chamois skin. When a gloss finish 

 is desired, the last coat is not rubbed. For a polished finish 

 the last coat is rubbed with pumice-stone and water, then 

 with water and rottenstone; if a very fine surface is desired, 

 it is finished with oil and a little rottenstone and rubbed with 

 a soft flannel or with the bare hand. 



Shellac or spirit varnish, made by dissolving shellac in 

 alcohol, does not flow freely. It must be applied thinly with 

 long, even strokes of the brush. A surface finished with 

 shellac varnish is given five or six coats, each coat being 

 rubbed down with fine steel wool, curled hair, or oiled sand- 

 paper. 



These processes are performed in the order in which they 

 have been described. The stain is applied first, then the 

 pores of the wood are closed with a filler, and finally the 

 varnish coats are put on according to the finish desired. 



426. Graining. In imitating the grain of various woods, 

 the surface is first given at least two coats of paint tinted 

 according to the kind of wood to be imitated. The second 

 coat of ground-color is made to dry with a gloss, so that the 

 graining mixture will not, by being absorbed, make the grain 

 appear dingy. After the ground-color is thoroughly dry the 



