HOME-MADE PAINTS 509 



17. Black pitch, 6 pounds ; ivory-black and whiting, of each, 1 

 pound. Less attractive than the former. 

 These are used for sealing up bottles, barrels, etc. 



Paints and Protective Compounds 



Home-made washes for fences and out-buildings may be made 

 by various combinations of lime and grease. The following are good 

 formulas : — • 



1. Slake fresh quicklime in water, and thin it to a paste or paint with 

 skim-milk. The addition of two or three handfuls of salt to a pail 

 of the wash is beneficial. 



2. Two quarts skim-milk, 8 ounces of fresh slaked lime, 6 ounces 

 of boiled linseed oil, and 2 ounces of white pitch, dissolved in the 

 oil by a gentle heat. The lime must be slaked in cold water and 

 dried in the air until it falls into a fine powder ; then mix with i 

 part of the milk, adding the mixed oil and pitch by degrees; add 

 the remainder of the milk. Lastly, add 3 pounds of the best whit- 

 ing and mix the whole thoroughly. 



3. Slake ^ bushel of lime in boiling water, keeping it covered; 

 strain and add brine made by dissolving 1 peck of salt in warm 

 water, and 3 pounds rice flour, then boil to a paste ; add ^ pound 

 whiting and 1 pound of glue dissolved in warm water. Mix and 

 let stand for a few days before using. 



Fire-proof paint. 



4. In a covered vessel slake the best quicklime, then add a mixture of 

 skim-milk and water, and mix to the consistency of cream ; then 

 add 20 pounds of alum, 15 pounds of potash and 1 bushel of salt to 

 every 100 gallons of the liquid. If white paint is desired, add to the 

 above 6 pounds of plaster of paris. 



For damp walls. 



5. Three-fourths pound of hard soap to 1 gallon of water. Lay 

 over the bricks steadily and carefully with a flat brush, so as not to 

 form a froth or lather on the surface. After 24 hours mix ^ pound 

 of alum with 4 gallons of water ; let it stand twenty-four hours, and 

 then apply it in the same maimer over the coating of soap. Apply 

 in dry weather. 



