There is a method of bronzing casts of plaster of Paris analogous to that
which we have above given for bronzing wood； but it is not in much repute。
Such figures may be beautifully varnished by means of Dr。 John's varnish；
receipt No。178。 Casts of plaster of Paris may be made by receipt No。167。
183。 SHELL…LAC VARNISH
Dissolve in an iron kettle； one part of pearl…ash in about 8 parts of
water； add one part of shell…lac； and heat the whole to ebullition。 When
the lac is dissolved； cool the solution； and impregnate it with chlorine；
till the lac is all precipitated。 The precipitate is white； but its colour
deepens by washing and consolidation； dissolved in alcohol； lac bleached
by the above process yields a varnish which is as free from colour as any
copal varnish。
184。 CHLORINE FOR SHELL…LAC VARNISH
This may be formed by mixing intimately eight parts of common salt； and
three parts of the black oxide of manganese in powder； put this mixture
into a retort； then pour four parts of sulphuric acid； diluted with an
equal weight of water； and afterwards allowed to cool upon the salt and
manganese； the gas will then be immediately liberated； and the operation
may be quickened by a moderate heat。 A tube leading from the mouth of the
retort must be passed into the resinous solution； where the gas will be
absorbed； and the lac precipitated。
185。 SHELL…LAC VARNISHES OF VARIOUS COLOURS
These may be made by using ant colour in fine powder with the varnish； in
the following manner： rub up the colour with a little alcohol or spirits
of turpentine till it becomes perfectly smooth； then put it into the cup
with the varnish。 Shell…lac varnish is the best spirit varnish we have；
and may be made any colour by the above process。
186。 GOLD OIL…COLOUR； OR SIZE
The English method of preparing the colour in size； which serves as the
ground on which the gold is laid； is； to grind together some red oxide of
lead with the thickest drying oil that can be procured； the older the
better。 To make it work freely； it is mixed； before being used； with a
little oil of turpentine； till it is brought to a proper consistence。 The
above four receipts are used in japanning。
187。 JAPANNING
If it be woodwork you are about to japan； it must be prepared with size；
and some coarse material mixed with it to fill up and harden the grain of
the wood； （such as may best suit the colour to be laid on；） which must be
rubbed smooth with glass paper when dry。 In cases of accident； it is
seldom necessary to resize the damaged places； unless they are
considerable。
188。 GRINDING COLOURS IN JAPANNING
Be very careful in japanning； to grind your colours smooth in spirits of
turpentine； then add a small quantity of turpentine and spirit varnish；
lay it carefully on with a camel hair brush； and varnish it with brown or
white varnish； according to the colour。
189。 COLOURS REQUIRED IN JAPANNING
Flake white； red lead； vermillion； lake； Prussian blue； patent yellow；
orpiment； orchres； verditers； vandyke brown； umber； lamp…black； and
siennas raw and burnt。 With these you may match almost any colour in
general use in japanning。 For a black japan； it will be found sufficient
to mix a little gold…size with lamp…black； this will bear a good gloss；
without requiring to be varnished afterwards。
190。 TO PREPARE A FINE TORTOISE…SHELL JAPAN
Take 1 gallon of good linseed oil； and 1/2 lb。 of umber； boil them
together till the oil becomes very brown and thick； then strain it through
a coarse cloth； and set it again to boil； in which state it must be
continued till it acquires a consistence resembling that of pitch； it will
then be fit for use。
191。 DIRECTIONS FOR USING TORTOISE…SHELL JAPAN
Having thus prepared the varnish or japan； clean well the substance which
is to be japanned； then lay vermillion； tempered with shell…lac varnish；
or with drying oil； very thinly diluted with oil of turpentine； on the
places intended to imitate the more transparent parts of the
tortoise…shell； when the vermillion is dry； brush the whole over with
black varnish； tempered to a due consistence with the oil of turpentine。
When set and firm； put the work into a stove； where it may undergo a
very strong heat； which must be continued a considerable time； if even
three weeks or a month it will be the better。 This tortoise…shell ground
it not less valuable for its great hardness； and enduring to be made
hotter than boiling water without damage； than for the superior beauty and
brilliancy of its appearance。
192。 TO MAKE CLOTH； SILK &c。； WATER…PROOF
Mix equal quantities of alum and acetate of lead； and dissolve the mixture
in 1 1/2 gallons of boiling water。 When the solution has cooled；remove the
supernatent liquid from the sediment； which consists of sulphate of lead；
and is ready for use。 Any article of dress； when well saturated in this
liquid； and allowed to dry slowly； bears the action of boiling water； and
does not permit it to pass through； although steam and air penetrate if
freely。
193。 CROCKERY CEMENT
Dissolve 1 oz。 of common salt in 1 quart of water； bring to a boil； and
put in 1 1/4 lbs。 gum shell…lac； when it shall have dissolved； pour into
cold water； and work like wax； make into small sticks。 This will make
crockery as firm as a rock。 Directions： … Warm the stick； apply it to the
broken edges； then heat the edges； place them together and hold for a
minute； and they are firm。
194。 A CEMENT FOR CHINA； GLASS…WARE； &c。
Take a thick mucilage of gum arabic； and stir into it plaster of Paris to
form a thick paste； apply to the edges with a brush； and press firmly
together and confine them two or three days； and you will be astonished at
their firmness。
195。 ANGLER'S SECRET
The juice of loveage or smellage mixed with any kind of bait； or a few
drops of the oil of rhodium； India cockle； also； is sometimes mixed with
flour dough； and sprinkled on the surface of still water。 This intoxicates
the fish； and makes him turn up on the top of the water； when he is taken
and put in a tub of fresh water until he revives； when all is right； he
may be eaten without fear； but this will destroy many fish。
196。 MORELLA WINE
Take the juice of morella or tame cherries； and to each quart put 3 quarts
of water； and 4 lbs。 of coarse brown sugar； let them ferment； and skim
until worked clear； then draw off； avoiding the sediment at the bottom；
bung up； or bottle； which is best for all wines； letting the bottles lie
always on the side； either for wines or beers。
197。 HAIR DYE
No。1 Crystalised nitrate of silver； 1 drachm； soft water； 1 oz。
No。2 Sulphide （sulphuret is the same） of potassium； 1 drachm； soft water；
1 oz。； wash the beard or hair with soap to remove oil； dry with a towel a
little then apply No。1； and directly after it No。2； for a few minutes；
alternately； using different tooth brushes for each No。 Clear days are
best on which to apply it。 As soon as dry； wash out well with soap。 Keep
it from shirt bosoms and face； especially No。1； as it will make the face
sore as well as colour it。 If you do get it on the skin； cyanide （cyanuret
is the same） of potassium； 1 drachm； to 2 ozs。 of water； will take it off。
This last is poison； however； and should not touch sore places； nor be
left where children may get at it。
198。 TALLOW CANDLES IN IMITATION OF WAX
Purify melted mutton tallow by throwing in powdered quicklime； then add 2
parts of wax to 1 of tallow。 A most beautiful article of candle；
resembling wax； will be produced by the mixture。 Dip the wicks in
lime…water and saltpetre on making。
199。 TO STAIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS A CRIMSON STAIN
Take of ground Brazil； 1 lb。； water； 3 quarts； cochineal； 1/2 oz。； boil
the Brazil in the water for an hour； then strain； and add the cochineal；
then boil it gently for half…an…hour； when it will be fit for use。 If you
wish a scarlet tint； boil an ounce of saffron in a quart of water； and
pass over the work before you stain it。 The article must be very clean；
and of firwood； or the best sycamore。 When varnished over this stain it is
most elegant。
200。 A PURPLE STAIN FOR VIOLINS； &c。
Take of chipped logwood； 1 lb。； of water； 3 quarts； of pearl…ash； 4 ozs。；
of indigo； pounded； 2 ozs。； put the logwood in the water； boil well for an
hour； then add the pearl…ash and indigo； and when dissolved； you will have
a beautiful purple。
201。 A BLUE STAIN FOR VIOLINS； &c。
Take of oil of vitriol in a glass bottle； 1 lb。； put into it 4 ozs。 of
indigo； and precede as directed in dyeing。
202。 GREEN STAIN FOR VIOLINS； &c。
Take of strong vinegar； 3 pints； of best verdigris； 4 ozs。； ground fine；
of sap green； 1/2 oz。； of indigo； 1/2 oz。； mix all together。
203。 GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR DYEING
The materials should be perfectly clean； soap should be rinsed out in soft
water； the article should be entirely wetted； or it will spot； light
colours should be steeped in brass； tin or earthen； and； if set at all；
should be set with alum。 Dark colours should be boiled in iron； and set
with copperas； too much copperas rots the thread。
204。 FOR COLOURING SKY BLUE
Get the blue composition； it may be had at the druggist's； or clothier's；
for a shilling an ounce。 If the articles are not white； the old colours
should all be discharged by soap or a strong solution of tartaric acid；
then rinsed； 12 or 16 drops of the composition； stirred into a quart…bowl
of warm water； and strained if settlings are seen； will dye a great many
articles。 If you want a deeper colour； add a few drops more of the
composition。 If you wish to colour cotton goods； put in pounded chalk to
destroy the acid； which is very destructive to all cotton； let it stand
until the effervescence subsides； and then it may be safely used for
cotton or silk。
205。 FOR LILAC COLOUR
Take a little pinch of archil；