CHAPTER IX. 



WAX AND VARNISH. 



"WAX and varnish of one or two kinds are absolutely indispensable to the 

 -tackle maker, and I therefore now proceed to give a few recipes for each. 



White Wax. Take 2oz. of resin, and oz. of beeswax, and simmer 

 them together for ten minutes in a pipkin, then add ioz. of tallow, and 

 simmer for ten minutes more. Pour out and work with the fingers till 

 cold. 



Colourless Wax. The following is a recipe of Mr. Haigh's, of Glasgow, 

 who says at the same time, " Waxes containing tallow or grease of any 

 kind should never be used for fly tying " : Take lib. of clean resin and 

 melt it over a slow fire, add to it 4oz. of diachylon, stir them gently with 

 a stick till thoroughly incorporated. Then empty the wax into a bucket 

 of clean cold water, and when cool enough to handle pull it between the 

 hands for about twenty minutes. The more it is pulled about the brighter 

 it will become. 



Cobblers' Wax, suitable for tying ordinary hooks, can be made as 

 follows : Take 2oz. of best yellow resin, in powder ; add 1 drachm of 

 white beeswax, sliced in minute pieces, put it in a small jar or pipkin, 

 which place in a saucepan of boiling water, taking care the water is so 

 shallow as not to mix with the resin and wax (or the jar may be placed 

 on the side piece of a grate), with a bit of stick stir till the resin and 

 wax are dissolved perfectly, then add 2 drachms of best fresh lard, and let 

 the whole simmer for ten minutes, stirring often ; pour into a basin of 

 cold water, and whilst warm pull the wax and knead it with the fingers 

 till nearly cold to give it toughness. Make it into small balls, which 

 place on a piece of window glass in a small box to keep from dust ; to be 

 kept in a cellar or cool place. Another very good recipe is : Tallow resin, 

 23 drachms ; beeswax, 13 drachms ; and prepared suet, 2 drachms ; 

 melt together. When using either of these compositions it is necessary 



