198 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



not crack ; and should it receive a blow, will dent and 

 not chip out. The former gives an easy, speedy, and 

 poor result;, the latter is more tedious, but once on is a 

 permanent protection. Rod-makers complain of coach- 

 body varnish that it is a very tedious drier, but this is 

 mainly because they do not know how to use it. Hung 

 up in a room, a thick coat may not be dry enough to 

 handle in two weeks ; but if you will be governed by 

 the following directions, your patience will not be sub- 

 ject to anything like such a tax. 



First fit a plug provided with a wire hook to each of 

 your ferrules, to hang the joint up by when drying. 

 Then apply your varnish in as thin a coat as you can. 

 This is one of the secrets of success as thin a coat as 

 you can apply. To aid in this, thin the varnish with 

 spirits of turpentine until it works freely, and all brush- 

 marks flow together readily and soon after application. 

 A stiffish brush must be used. Now, if the weather per- 

 mit, hang the varnished work out in the sun and wind 

 the wind especially. It is this that hardens varnish, and 

 a coat that will remain " tacky " for a week in-doors, will, 

 thus treated, become perfectly hard in twelve hours. Ap- 

 ply no second coat till the first is hard, and remember to 

 lay it as thinly as you can, and you will have no trouble. 

 Apply four or five coats. 



When these are perfectly hard, rub down with pow- 

 dered pumice-stone and water, till the surface is smooth. 

 Rub the work frequently with a damp sponge to clean 

 the surface, that you may inspect your progress, lest you 

 cut through the varnish altogether, and be compelled to 

 begin again. When this is finished, rub well with pow- 

 dered rotten-stone and water, and then polish with dry 

 rotten-stone. Wash again to remove any that may ad- 



