JAPANNING. 249 



account less durable than those manufactured at 

 Birmingham, where it is not used. 



Of the Nature of Japan Grounds. 



When a priming is used, the work should first 

 be prepared by being well smoothed with fish-skin 

 or glass-paper, and being made thoroughly clean, 

 should be brushed over once or twice with hot 

 size, diluted with two-thirds water, if it is of the 

 common strength. The priming should then be 

 laid on as even as possible, and should be formed 

 of a size, of a consistency between the common 

 kind and glue, mixed with as much whiting as 

 will give it a sufficient body of colour to hide 

 the surface of whatever it is laid upon, but 

 not more. This must be repeated till the inequal- 

 ities are completely filled up, and then the work 

 must be cleaned off with Dutch rushes, and 

 polished with a wet rag. 



When wood or leather is to be japanned, and no 

 priming is used, the best preparation is to lay two 

 or three coats of coarse varnish, composed in the 

 following manner. 



Take of rectified spirits of wine one pint, and of 

 coarse seed-lac and resin, each two ounces ; dis- 

 solve the seed-lac and resin in the spirit, and then 

 strain off the varnish. 



This varnish, as well as all others formed of 

 spirit of wine, must be laid on in a warm place ; 

 and if it can be conveniently managed, the piece 

 of work to be varnished should be made warm like- 

 wise ; and for the same reason, all dampness should 

 be avoided ; for either cold or moisture chills this 

 kind of varnish, and prevents its taking proper 

 hold of the substance on v/hich it is laid. 



