218 AMATEUR RODMAKING 



it will be thin and all particles of gum con- 

 tained in it will be melted so that it will flow 

 nicely and dry rapidly. A warm rod and hot 

 varnish will insure a nice finish. 



For your work it is assumed that you have 

 procured a flat brush of good quality, and that 

 you are ready to begin by holding one end of 

 a joint on a table and the other in your left 

 hand. With a modest quantity of varnish, 

 pass the brush from the top down for four 

 inches, turning the joint slowly while the 

 brush is held at an angle of about 20 degrees 

 to the rod. Work very slowly, and in going 

 over each winding see that a bare spot is not 

 left there, caused by the brush skipping over 

 the silk and missing the wood just beyond. 

 To prevent this it is sometimes advisable to 

 pass the brush around the rod at each wind- 

 ing first, then, when the varnish in it is nearly 

 exhausted, go over that part lengthwise, to 

 insure an even coating. At any rate, great 

 care must be exercised to prevent daubing the 

 varnish on in places and skipping others. 



The first coat should be worked in, with no 

 attempt to flow the varnish on, and be careful 

 lest varnish accumulates around the guides, 

 and leaves them gummed up and unsightly. 

 The same care is necessary with reference to 



