130 



Popular Science Monthly 



a circle, in which case it works with a 

 rocking motion. The length of the segment 

 should be sufficient to cover the surface to 

 be grained, otherwise it will be difficult, 

 but not impossible, to make the joint un- 

 noticeable. A full circle roller is made as 

 follows: Take a shaft and fix upon it, by 

 mortise or otherwise, spokes of proper 

 length, according to the size of the desired 

 circumference, and around these spokes run 

 or bend a strip of 3^-in. gum wood. If the 

 ends of the shaft are smoothed off and 

 allowed to extend about 4 in., handles will 

 be provided toehold the roller in operation. 

 Place around this roller the composition for 

 making the print. A large roller may be 

 made with a circular head of i-in. board 

 having flanges from % to I x /> in. larger 

 than the roller. Turn the roller over and 

 stop all holes with plaster of Paris. The 

 best way to do this is to run the plaster 

 all around the inside of the roller. In the 

 head of the roller, as it stands upright, cut 

 three or four notches along the edge, about 

 1 by 2 in. to make places for pouring in the 

 composition and for letting out the air. 

 Make a long smooth strip of zinc large 

 enough to cover the roller, rub it over well 

 with grease or oil, then place it around the 

 roller and pour in the composition. The 

 oiled or greased side must be next to the 

 composition. A very large roller will need 

 collar bands to hold the zinc. Draw the 

 zinc around the heads of the roller and 

 pour in the composition through a strainer. 

 Allow it to stand for at least 12 hours 

 before removing the zinc. 



Making the Roller 



To make a smaller roller form it in a 

 mold made of a light wood frame of the 

 required size, set on a piece of zinc or 

 glass. Pour the composition into it, then 

 lay a piece of canvas on top of it. When 

 cool, attach to a roller or rocker with tacks. 



The composition is made as follows: 

 Heat 12 oz. of raw linseed oil to the boiling 

 point and add 1 oz. of chloride of sulphur. 

 In another vessel dissolve 2 lb. of the best 

 white glue and when melted add 8 oz. of 

 commercial glycerine. Use as little water 

 as possible in melting the glue. The best 

 way to dissolve or melt glue is to pour 

 enough cold water on the dry glue to cover 

 it and let it soak over night. It will take 

 all the water it can hold. Pour off the 

 surplus water and add enough boiling water 

 to melt it. To the glue add 8 oz. of com- 

 mercial glycerine and mix well. 



Another formula is to dissolve or melt 

 24 parts of the best white glue and add to it 

 12 parts of commercial glycerine, which is 

 cheaper than the drug-store brand. For a 

 roller requiring from 10 to 15 lb. of com- 

 position add Y /2 pt. each of molasses and 

 raw linseed oil. To test the composition 

 for consistency, cool a little of it and if it 

 dries too stiff add a little glycerine; if too 

 soft add more glue. This composition 

 should be kept hot until used. Boiling it 

 will do no harm, as this is inclined to drive 

 off more of the surplus water. 



Now for the Scraper 



A scraper will be required and it is made 

 as follows: Procure a piece of white pine 

 board 12 in. long, 4 in. wide and Y% in. 

 thick and make a groove in one edge of it 

 1 in. deep in which a piece of sole leather is 

 placed after giving the depression a good 

 coat of glue. The piece of leather should 

 be about \]/2 in. wide and as long as the 

 board. The edges of the board should be 

 planed down so that it will not interfere 

 with the projecting 3^2 in- of leather. 



The printing color should be a little 

 heavier than oil paint. It is composed of 

 pigments ground in Japan. A board is the 

 next requisite. It is made from the kind 

 of wood to be imitated. Select as fine a 

 figured specimen as possible and make it 

 perfectly smooth and even of surface. This 

 board must be 6 in. wider and 1 ft. longer 

 than the circumference of the roller. Nail 

 thin strips around the edges of the board, 

 allowing them to extend 1 in. above the 

 surface. Bore a y^-m. hole in one corner 

 through which to pour off the liquids when 

 cleaning it off. With the board ready, 

 prepare a solution of I lb. of concentrated 

 lye dissolved in hot water and pour it on 

 the board's surface, allowing it to remain 

 for 20 minutes. Then pour it off through 

 the hole in the corner and rinse with clear 

 water to remove the lye, after which flow 

 a little vinegar water over it to neutralize 

 the lye. The board is then left to dry out 

 thoroughly, after which it may be lightly 

 rubbed with fine sandpaper. The lye 

 removes the soft fibers of the wood, leaving 

 on the harder grain an effect similar to 

 etching. The board is then ready for the 

 printing process; but first try it by making 

 a print from it on paper. If it shows an 

 imperfect or faint print apply the lye 

 solution again. Pour some of the printing 

 color on the impression-board through a 

 strainer. The printing color is made into 



