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 which it is laid, 



