Ingredients
- two ounces of tripoli into an earthen pot
- two ounce stick of wax to a coarse powder
- a piece of fine flannel four times doubled
- a piece of cork rubber
- a piece of fine pumice stone
- a pint of spirits of wine
Directions
Be careful in varnishing not to go over the same place twice, as in " washing " water color, and for the same reason ; that is to say, you may take off instead of putting on, and it will look patched, or Hke a seam that shows the stitches. In varnishing, as in painting, take the greatest care to have your brushes clean. Do your work quickly. Make up your mind before you begin and meditate for the next time wlien you have laid down your brush. It is important to go straight ahead : "the woman who hesitates is lost."
Always Buy Varnish. Never attempt to make it yourself, it is a dan- gerous process. In varnishing furniture first make the work quite clean, then fill up the knots or blemishes with cement of the same color ; see that your brush is clean and free from loose hairs ; dip your brush in the varnish, stroke it along the wire across the top of your var- nish pot ; give it a thin coat ; let it stand in a moderately warm place to dry.
To Polish Varnish — Put two ounces of tripoli into an earthen pot or basin, with water sufficient to cover it, then with a piece of fine flannel four times doubled, lay it over a piece of cork rubber and proceed to polish your varnish, always wetting it with the tripoli and water. You will know when the process is complete by wiping a part of the work with a sponge and observing whether there is a fair and even gloss. Clean off with a bit of mutton suet and fine flour. Be careful not to rub the work too hard nor too long, but only to make the surface smooth and even.
French Method of Polishing — With a piece of fine pumice stone and water, pass regularly over the work with the grain, until the rising of the grain is down, then with powdered tripoli and boiled linseed oil, polish
VARNISHING AND POLISHING. 369
the work to a bright face. This will be very superior polish, but it requires considerable time.
A Sealing Wax Varnish for Chairs or Light Articles — Reduce a two ounce stick of wax to a coarse powder ; pour a quarter of a pint of spirits of wine on it (in a bottle) ; let it gradually dissolve without heat, shaking the bottle occasionally till all is dissolved. Very much depends on the goodness of your sealing wax. You may vary the colors by using different colored wax. As this varnish dries very quickly, it should not be made until it is wanted for use. There is, of course, no danger in compounding this varnish.
THE BANQUET WAITS OUR PliESENCE. GOOD SISTER, LET US DINE."
SnAKSPEAEE.