62 farmers' a»;d mechanics' journal. 



Red shell-lac varnish, 



Is best made from good Dutch sealing wax. This is the kind 

 used to varnish glass, and wood, for electrical purposes. Three or 

 four coats will make a perfect covering. 



Of the brushes used in varnishing. 



It has been already remarked that the painters' sash-tool, makes 

 a very good varnish brush for common purposes ; for large articles, 

 however, the flat camel's hair brushes, made for the purpose, are 

 to be preferred ; they are to be obtained from half an inch, to four 

 inches in width, at most of the drug stores ; for smaller sizes, round 

 brushes, with tin tubes, are to be preferred. 



It is a common practice, when the same brush is always used 

 with the same kind of varnish, to allow it to dry with the varnish 

 on, after scraping the brush on the edge of the cup ; in this case it 

 must be allowed to stand in the varnish for a few minutes to soften 

 before using. It is a much better practice, however, to wash the 

 brushes clean in spirits of turpentine, or in alcohol. When wash- 

 ed in the latter, the alcohol need not be wasted, but may be poured 

 into the varnish bottle. For colored varnishes, kept in small quan- 

 tities, the brush may be left in the bottle ; but in this case, the 

 cork should be perforated so as to fit the handle, and the points of 

 the hairs should dip into the varnish ; it is then always ready for 

 use. A common mustard bottle will, in general, answer the in- 

 tended purpose. 



Of the French polish, hy means of shell-lac varnish. 



There is a mode of using shell-lac varnish, which is sometimes 

 denominated the French, and sometimes the German mode. To 

 whomsoever it is due, it merits to be generally known, as the pro- 

 cess is easy and economical, and the effect beautiful. It has been 

 much employed by cabinet and musical instrument makers, but is 

 yet not so extensively practised as it merits to be. 



The varnish is to be prepared in the way already directed, and 

 is used of a moderate thickness. The article to be polished must 

 have a smooth even surface, such as is left by fine glass paper, 

 usually called sand paper. 



Mode of applying the varnish. 

 The varnish is applied by means of what is called a rubber; this 

 is frequently made by rolling up a strip of thick woollen cloth, 

 which has been torn off, so as to form a soft elastic edge ; thick, 

 wide list will answer perfectly well, although a gieater width is 

 more convenient to hold. This coil may be from one to three 

 inches in diameter, according to the size of the work. 



[From Gill's Technical Repository.] 

 " On the manner of applying the varnish. 

 " The varnish, put into a narrow-mouthed bottle, is to be appli- 

 ed to the middle of the flat face of the rubber, by laying the rubber 

 upon the mouth of the bottle, and quickly shaking the varnish up 



