French Polishing and Enamelling | Page 6

the writer's opinion, is clear ox-gall, which, besides being useful as a mordant, will destroy all unctuous matter.
=Chemicals used in Staining.=--It may perhaps be useful here to give the common or popular names of the chemicals employed in the operations of staining and imitating, as few polishers know them by the scientific names used by chemists:--
Nitric acid is but another phrase for aquafortis. Sulphuric acid, for oil of vitriol. Ammonia, for spirits of hartshorn. Sulphate of magnesia, for Epsom salts. Nitrate of potass, for sal prunelle. Chlorine, for aqua regia. Sulphate of copper, for blue vitriol. Subborate of soda, for borax. Superoxalate of potass, for salts of sorrel. Hydrochlorate of ammonia, for sal ammoniac. Subnitrate of bismuth, for flake white. Acetic acid, for vinegar. Acetate of lead, for sugar of lead. Sulphate of lime, for gypsum. Carbonate of potass, for pearlash. Bitartrate of potass, for cream of tartar. Nitrate of silver, for lunar caustic. Supercarbonate of iron, for plumbago. Cyanide of iron, for Prussian blue. Subacetate of copper, for common verdigris. Susquecarbonate of ammonia, for sal volatile. Alcohol, for pure spirit. Sulphate of iron, for green copperas. Sulphate of zinc, for white copperas.
=Process of Staining.=--The natural qualities of woods are very variable; so also are the textures of the different sorts usually used for staining. It will be readily perceived that there is no fixed principle upon which certain peculiar tints or shades can be produced with any degree of certainty. In order to arrive at the best results, the stainer is recommended to observe the following rules:--
All dry stuffs are best reduced to powder, when it is possible, before macerating or dissolving them.
All liquids should be strained or filtered before use.
The requisite ingredients should always be tested before a free use is made of them, as the effect produced by a coat of stain cannot be accurately ascertained until it is thoroughly dry.
Amateurs in staining had far better coat twice or thrice with a weak stain than apply a strong one; for if too dark a tint is first obtained it is often irremediable. Flat surfaces will take stain more evenly if a small portion of linseed-oil is first wiped over, well rubbed off, and allowed to dry, then lightly papered down with fine glass-paper. End-way wood which is of a spongy nature should first have a coat of thin varnish, and when dry well glass-papered off. For applying stain a flat hog-hair tool is the best; and for a softener-down a badger-hair tool is used. For mahogany shades and tints a mottler will be found of service, as will also a soft piece of Turkey sponge. For oak, the usual steel graining-comb is employed for the streaking, and for veining badger sash-tools and sable pencils.
=Ready-made Wood Stains.=--There are numerous stains suitable for common work in the market obtainable at a small cost by residents in London, but it is cheaper for those who reside in country towns to make their own, if only a small quantity is required. The principal makers of wood stains are H. C. Stephens, of 191, Aldersgate-street, E.C., and Jackson, 213, Union-street, Southwark, S.E. These makers prepare stains in a liquid state, and also in powders for oak, walnut, mahogany, satin-wood, ebony, and rosewood. The powders are sold in packages at 8s. per lb. or 1s. for two ounces, and are soluble in boiling water. Judson, of 77, Southwark-street, S.E., makes a mahogany powder in sixpenny packets, and any reliable oilman will sell a good black stain at 8d. per quart, or a superior black stain at 1s. 2d. per quart. Fox, of 109, Bethnal Green-road, also prepares stains in a liquid state.
CHAPTER III.
FRENCH POLISHING.
=The Polish Used.=--The oil or wax polish was used for all kinds of furniture before the introduction of French polish, the invention of which, as its name implies, is due to French cabinet-makers. It was first introduced into England about seventy years since; some time elapsed, however, before it was brought to a high state of perfection. At first apprentices or porters were entrusted with the polishing, they having been usually called upon to do the wax polishing; but in course of time it was found that its successful adoption implied the possession of considerable skill, and it came to be regarded as an art of no little importance--so much so, that the early polishers who had perfected themselves used to work in a shop with closed doors, lest the secret of their success should be discovered. From that time polishing became a separate branch of the cabinet business.
The following original recipe as first invented has been extracted from a French work, the Dictionnaire Technologique, not, however, for its usefulness (it having gone into disuse many years ago), but as a matter of curiosity:--
"French Polish."
Gum sandarach 14 ounces 2 drachms