320 ENGINEERING ON THE FARM 



sandpapering to a perfect surface, and filling by means of a 

 paste filler or shellac according to the character of the wood. 

 Even when the paste filler is used, it is desirable to apply one 

 coat of the shellac in order to insure a permanent finish. 

 After the shellac has been allowed to set twenty-four hours, 

 it should be rubbed down almost to the wood by the use of 

 wire wool No. i or No, o. It must be understood that shel- 

 lac is a very poor finish and that all that is on the surface 

 should be removed. The purpose of the shellac is to com- 

 plete the sealing of the pores of the wood. A spread brush, 

 pad, and weighted brush are necessary for the application 

 of the wax. After the shellac coat has been rubbed, the floor 

 should be dusted off thoroughly and a thin coat of prepared 

 wax applied with a pad. The wax should be allowed to dry 

 or set from twenty minutes to half an hour and then be 

 rubbed with a weighted brush first across the grain of the 

 wood and then with the grain. This coat should be left a 

 day and a second coat applied in the same way. Care 

 should be taken to avoid leaving an excess of wax in corners 

 and around baseboards and base blocks, for such surplus 

 merefy acts as a dirt catcher. A third and fourth coat of 

 wax may be applied at any time at intervals of one week 

 thereafter. The upkeep of the floor will require one to three 

 applications of wax per year, depending on the amount of 

 wear. In doorways and hallways it would be well to apply 

 wax possibly once a month in order to maintain the wearing 

 surface and not allow the wood to become exposed and 

 discolored. 



Floor cleaning. A very satisfactory floor cleaner may 

 be made of the following ingredients boiled together for ten 

 minutes: turpentine, i tablespoon; raw oil, i tablespoon; 

 soap, size of an egg; water, 2 quarts. Moisten a cloth with 

 the solution and wash the discolored spots from the floor. 

 This will not cause discoloring on reapplication of floor finish. 

 Where waxed or varnished floors are badly discolored, wire 

 wool dipped in turpentine will very effectually prepare them 



