PAINTING 111 



For outside work boiled linseed oil should be used for all but the 

 priming coat, and in the third and remaining coats less turps should 

 be used. The following proportions of oil and turps are suitable : — 



Priming coat 



Second coat 



Third and remaining coats 



4 pints raw linseed oil 

 2| pints boiled linseed oil 

 3$ ,, n H 



No turps 



l\ pints turps 



\ pint turps 



If the work is much exposed to the sun it might be advisable to 

 use a slightly larger proportion of turps in the last coat, to prevent 

 the paint from blistering. Boiled linseed oil, however, should not be 

 used in white or light-tinted paints where purity of tint is desired, as 

 it causes the paint to dry dark in colour. 



Preparation of Woodwork. — The surface of the wood to be painted 

 should be planed smooth and clean, and sand-papered; it should be 

 dry and free from dust. All nails should be punched in until their 

 heads are below the surface. 



Killing Knots. — In order to prevent the paint from being discoloured 

 by the resin exuded from knots, the latter are " killed " by painting 

 them over with knotting. Knotting is made by dissolving shellac in 

 methylated spirits or naphtha. Knotting is often applied in two coats, 

 but for most farm purposes one is sufficient. Patent knotting is largely 

 used ; it can be purchased in tins. 



Priming. — After the knotting has dried, the priming coat is applied. 



Stopping and Painting. — When the priming coat has become 

 thoroughly dry the work is stopped. This consists of filling all nail- 

 holes, cracks, etc. with soft putty. The work is again lightly sand- 

 papered, and the remaining coats are applied, each coat but the last 

 being lightly sand-papered before the application of the next one. 



In painting, the brush should at all times be held at right-angles 

 to the face of the work, i.e. with the ends only of the hairs touching 

 the work. This prevents smearing of the paint, and insures a thin 

 coat of uniform thickness, which is desirable. The latter object may 

 also be furthered, at least in the case of fair-sized and large surfaces, 

 by drawing the brush first across the grain of the wood, and then 

 finishing off ivith the grain, in applying each coat of paint. 



Durability. — Paint on external surfaces lasts from three to seven 

 years, according to the quality of the materials employed ; and on 



