76 farmers' and mechanics' journal. 



using a larger portion of the turmeric, if a yellow color be preferred, 

 and of the dragon's blood, if the red is to predominate. It is best 

 not to color the varnish very highly at first, as it may then be al- 

 tered according to the nature of the w^ork. 



Lacker for tin, or silver leaf. 

 The only difference in this lacker, and that intended for brass, is 

 that it is more highly colored, as it is intended to give a gold color 

 to a white metal. Many articles, commonly supposed to he gilt, 

 are covered with silver leaf, and afterwards lackered, and when 

 well done, the deception is perfect. When, what was called gilt 

 leather, was in fashion, it was generally covered in this way. 



Directions for using the Lacker. 



The lacker properly colored, is to be poured into a tin or earth- 

 en cup ; a common tea-cup. fixed on a block of wood, to cause it 

 to stand firmly, will answer the purpose. It is convenient to have 

 a wire fixed across the cup, just below the rim, in order to scrape 

 the superfluous lacker from the brush. The brushes should be of 

 the flat kind, excepting for small work ; they are made of camel'a 

 hair, enclosed in tin, with cedar handles, and may be purchased at 

 most of the druggists. The brass to be lackered, must be perfect- 

 ly bright and clean ; the room must be free from dust ; a clean 

 piece of linen rag must be at hand, to wipe the work before it is 

 varnished ; the sooner it is lackered after it is finished, the bright- 

 er it will be, as polished brass, exposed for an hour or two, will be 

 sensibly tarnished. When it is not convenient to lacker soon after 

 polishing, it is the practice of some workmen to pass the lacker- 

 brush once over the article, cold, which prevents the contact of 

 the air ; the dull appearance which this produces, is removed in 

 the subsequent operation. 



The brass to be lackered, must be heated upon a stove, or in 

 any other convenient way ; the degree of heat must not be so great 

 as to render it difl[icult to hold the work in the hand, nor should it 

 be far below this. The brush is to be dipped in the varnish, and 

 then scraped upon the wire, or upon the edge of the cup, to re- 

 move a considerable portion of its contents, otherwise it cannot be 

 laid on evenly. The size of the brush may vary with the work, 

 but one of more than an inch and a half will rarely be found con- 

 venient to use. in laying on the varnish, the brush should always 

 be passed completely from one end of the work to the other, and 

 never backwards and forwards, as in paintmg, otherwise the lack- 

 ering will be irregular, and in streaks ; nor must it be passed a 

 second time over the same part, until the previous coat is dry ; a 

 few seconds, however, suftice for this, when the brass is properly 

 heated. Two or three coats will answer for most work, nor are 

 more than four or five ever requisite. Work that is thick, will 

 retain heat enough to be finished at one operation ; that which is 

 thin, must be heated between every coat. If the varnish is too 

 thick, it will always dry in streaks ; a little alcohol is an evident 

 remedy. 



