The Finishing of Woods 



process than painting, when the outside finish of houses is con- 

 sidered. Being a rough finish, it is not employed on interiors 

 unless a rustic scheme is being followed. 



Staining is also an important part of the finishing of ex- 

 pensive hardwood interiors. Even the best white oak is treated 

 to a little yellow to give it a creamier colour. "Weathered oak" 

 owes its age to fumes of ammonia or to burnt umber as a rule, and 

 Flemish oak to darker dyes. The bog oak of Ireland is black as 

 soot, but an imitation is produced by staining any of our oaks 

 black. It takes a connoisseur to tell the genuine from the bogus. 

 Ebony and teak are easily imitated. Elm masquerades as oak, 

 birch as mahogany. Yet staining is a legitimate practice. The 

 handsomest of mahogany has had a little Venetian red worked into 

 its pores to brighten the grain and make the colour even. 



Filling. Coarse-grained woods are very porous and easily 

 dented, and do not take a good polish unless a filler is used. A 

 great many different substances are used to replace the air in 

 these wood cells. In fact there are very few woods that are not 

 both filled and stained before they are ready to be polished. 

 "White fillers" are tinted before they are applied. Some woods 

 are filled with plaster of Paris, moistened with water or spirits 

 after being rubbed into the surface as a powder. Whiting and 

 pumice are also used. Glue and patent wood sizings, even tallow 

 with plaster of Paris, are used. A popular filler is ordinary 

 varnish. When the filler is dry the surface is hard and ready 

 for the finishing process. 



Garnishing. Varnish is made by dissolving shellac in spirits. 

 The volatile liquid elements dry away, and a shiny, hard coating 

 of the shellac remains. It shows white lines when scratched with 

 a pin'. Varnish combined with stain is a popular finish for 

 cheap woodwork. The best varnish is made of white shellac; 

 through it the grain of the v/ood shows as if through a pane of 

 polished glass. 



After the filler, which raises the grain into a rough surface, 

 there is a rubbing down with pumice or fine sandpaper. Other- 

 wise the varnish emphasises the roughness. 



Polishing. Every fine piece of furniture or of woodwork is 

 polished to bring out the beauty of its grain and colouring. The 

 marvellous lustre of ^iano cases and rich furniture is due as 

 much to the faithful rubbing with an old rag as to any other trick 



541 



