VARNISHING RODS 217 



and if two coats of it are put on windings, it 

 is well to let them dry for a couple of days 

 before attempting to varnish. 



When you take it up again, go over the 

 wood with a piece of flannel or linen, rubbing 

 lightly but thoroughly to remove any wax, 

 grease or oil that may have accumulated there 

 during the winding. This is absolutely neces- 

 sary to the attainment of a nice finish, and 

 after the shellac on the windings is hard no 

 harm can be done by polishing the wood with 

 a strip of soft cotton or silk, bootblack fash- 

 ion. To do this hold one end of the joint 

 against something firm, to prevent turning. 

 While it is not necessary, the shellac can be 

 warmed slightly over a flame at this stage and 

 the joint turned while a finger is passed around 

 each winding to smooth down any uneven sur- 

 faces. After this do not touch the wood or 

 windings with your hands; pick it up by the 

 ferrules instead. 



When you are ready to varnish, select a 

 warm day if possible, or at any rate one when 

 the air is not humid or moist. The rod should 

 be warmed in a room where the temperature 

 is 75 degrees, and your can of extra light 

 coach varnish should be left for ten minutes 

 in a pot of steaming hot water, to be sure that 



