ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 437 



a half ounces of rasped logwood, one and 

 three-fourths ounces of vitriol, and one 

 and three-fourths ounces of distilled ver- 

 digris are boiled together with water in a 

 well-glazed pot, the de6oction filtered 

 while it is warm, and the wood coated 

 with repeated hot layers of it. 



For a second coating a mixture of 

 three and a half ounces of pure iron 

 filings, dissolved in three-fourths ot liter 

 of strong wine vinegar, is warmed, and 

 when cool the wood already blackened is 

 coated two or three times with it, allow- 

 ing each coat to dry between. 



For articles which are to be thoroughly 

 saturated, a mixture of three-fourths ounce 

 of sal ammoniac, with a sufficient quanti- 

 ty of steel-filings, is to be placed in a suit- 

 able vessel, strong vinegar poured upon 

 it, and left for fourteen days in a gently 

 heated oven. A strong lye is now put 

 into a good pot, to which is added coarse- 

 ly bruised gall apples and blue Brazil 

 shavings, and exposed for the same time 

 as the iormer, to a gentle heat of an oven, 

 which will then yield a good varnish. 

 The pear wood articles are now laid in 

 the first-named varnish, boiled for a few 

 hours, and left in for three days longer; 

 they are then placed in the second var- 

 nish and treated as in the first. If the 

 articles are not then thoroughly saturated 

 they may be once more placed in the 

 first bath and then in the second. 



VARNISH, For Basket Ware.— The 

 following varnish for basket work is said 

 to dry rapidly, to possess sufficient elas- 

 ticity, and to be applicable with or with- 

 out admixture of color: Heat 375 grains 

 of good linseed oil on a sand-bath until it 

 becomes stringy, and a drop placed upon 

 a cold, inclined surface does not run; 

 then add gradually 7,500 grains of copal 

 oil varnish, or any other oil varnish. As 

 considerable effervescence takes place, a 

 large vessel is necessary. The desired 

 consistency is given to it, when cold, by 

 addition of oil of turpentine. 



VARNISH, Coachmakers'.— The fine 

 black varnish of the coachmakers is said 

 to be prepared by melting sixteen ounces 

 of amber in an iron pot, adding to it 

 half a pint of drying linseed oil, boiling 

 hot, of powdered resin and asphaltum, 

 three ounces each. When the materials 

 are well united, by stirring over the fire, 

 they are to be removed, and after cooling 



for some time, a pint of warm oil of tur- 

 pentine is to be introduced. 



VARNISH, Colorless.— Dissolve two 

 ounces and a half of shellac in a pint of 

 rectified spirits of wine ; boil for a fevr 

 minutes with five ounces of well-burned 

 and recently-heated animal charcoal. A 

 small portion of the solution should then 

 be filtered, and if not colorless, more 

 charcoal must be added. When all color 

 is removed, press the liquor through a 

 piece of silk, and afterward filter through 

 fine blotting paper. This kind of varnish 

 should be used in a room of at least sixty 

 degrees Fahr., perfectly free from dust. 

 It dries in a few minutes, and is not liable 

 afterward to chill or bloom. It is partic- 

 ularly applicable to drawings and prints 

 that have been sized, and may be used 

 for gilding. 



VARNISH, Copal Blue.— Indigo, Prus- 

 sian blue, blue verditer, or ultra-marine. 

 All these substances must be powdered 

 fine. 



VARNISH, ForjCardwork,— Before var- 

 nishing cardwork it must receive two or 

 three coats of size to prevent the absorp- 

 tion of the varnish and any injury to the 

 design. Size may be made by dissolving 

 a little isinglass in hot water, or by boil- 

 ing some parchment cuttings until dis- 

 solved. In either case the solution must 

 be strained through a piece of thin mus- 

 lin, and for very nice purposes should be 

 clarified with a little white of egg. A 

 small clean brush, called by painters a 

 sash tool, is the best for applying the 

 size as well as the varnish. Touch light- 

 ly, especially for first coat, lest the ink or 

 colors be started or smothered. 



VARNISH, Chinese. — Mastic, two 

 ounces ; sandarach, two ounces ; rectified 

 spirit, a pint. Close the matrass with 

 bladder, with a pin-hole for the escape of 

 vapor ; heat to boiling in a sand or water 

 bath, and when dissolved strain through 

 linen. 



VARNISH, Pale Carriage.— Take co- 

 pal, thirty-two parts; pale oil, eighty 

 parts; fuse and boil until stringy, then 

 add dried white copperas, one part ; li- 

 tharge, one part. Boil again, then cool a 

 little, and mix in spirits of turpentine, one 

 hundred and fifty parts. Strain. 



While making the above — Take gum 

 anime, thirty-two parts ; pale oil, eighty 

 parts ; dried sugar of lead, one part ; li- 



