a film of copper by the cyanide solution； to take it out； wash it in
water； and attach to it a simple cell or weak battery； and put it into a
solution of sulphate of copper。 If there is any part not sufficiently
covered with copper by the cyanide solution； the sulphate will make these
parts of a dark colour； which a touch of the finger will remove。 When such
is the case； the article must be taken out； scoured； and put again into
the cyanide solution till perfectly covered。 A little practice will render
this very easy。 The sulphate solution for covering iron should be prepared
by adding it by degrees a little caustic potash； so long as the
precipitate formed is re…dissolved。 This neutralizes a great portion of
the sulphuric acid； and thus the iron is not so readily acted upon。 When
the iron is thus coppered； proceed to silver it in the manner recommended
for silvering according to receipt No。9； or if you want to put a very
heavy coating of silver on it； make use of a strong battery。
21。 SOLDERING FLUID
For mending articles of tin； iron； zinc； copper； and almost all other
metals。 Take 2 fl。 ounces of muriatic acid； add zinc till bubbles cease to
rise； add 1/2 a teaspoonful of sal ammoniac and 2 ounces of water。 Damp
the part you wish to solder with this fluid； lay on a small piece of lead；
and with a piece of hot iron or soldering iron solder the part。
22。 SOLDER FOR TIN
Take of pewter 4 parts； tin 1 part； bismuth 1 part； melt them together。
Resin is used with this solder。
23。 COLD METHOD OF SILVERING IRON WITH SILVER…PLATE
Polish the iron toy wish to silver； then damp it over with soldering fluid
（receipt No。21） When this is done give it a coat of No。22 solder。 This is
done by laying a piece of cold solder on the iron； and spreading it over
with a heated soldering iron； when by this means you get the iron nicely
plated with solder； then lay on your silver…plate evenly； and gently rub
it over with the heated soldering iron； and it will become firmly united
with the solder as the solder is with the iron； so that you have the iron
beautifully plated with silver with very little cost or trouble。
24。 HOT METHOD OF SILVERING IRON WITH SILVER…PLATE
First polish the iron you wish to silver； wet it well over with No。21
soldering fluid； then having procured that kind of silver…plate which is
tin on one side and silver on the other； place it evenly on； with the
tined side next to the iron； then place it on the fire until the
silver…plate melts down； then at once take it from the fire； and it will
be firmly attached to the iron； and will be excellent plate； yet No。23；
the cold method； is to be preferred in most cases。
25。 SILVERING LOOKING…GLASSES WITH QUICKSILVER
Take a piece of marble or some other substance very smooth； true； and
level； lay on this the glass you wish to silver； then make a ridge of
putty on the marble against the edge of the glass all round it； so that
you can pour quicksilver on the glass until it is all covered over； and
will be prevented from running off by the ridge of putty； an inch or two；
or three outside this ridge make another of putty； then cover the
quicksilver on the glass all over with tin…foil； and press it firmly but
cautiously against the glass until you have squeezed out all the
quicksilver you can。 while you press this you may remove part of the first
ridge of putty to give the quicksilver a chance of escape。 When it is well
pressed against the glass there will be an amalgam formed of the tin…foil
and the quicksilver that is left； which will firmly adhere to the glass。
By this means you have a very beautiful and cheap looking…glass； the
quicksilver that escapes； being saved by the second ridge of putty； may be
used again。
26。 SILVERING LOOKING…GLASSES WITH PURE SILVER
Prepare a mixture of 3 grains of ammonia； 60 grains of nitrate of silver；
90 minims of spirits of wine； 90 minims of water； when the nitrate of
silver is dissolved； filter the liquid and add a small quantity of sugar
（15 grains） dissolved in 1 1/2 oz。 of water； and 1 1/2 oz。 of spirits of
wine。 Put the glass into this mixture； having one side covered with
varnish； gum； or some substance to prevent the silver being attached to
it。 Let it remain for a few days and you have a most elegant
looking…glass； yet it is far more costly than the quicksilver。
27。 PATENT BURNING FLUID
To 1 gallon of 95 per cent。 alcohol； add 1 quart of camphene oil； mix and
shake well； and if transparent it is fit for use； if not； add sufficient
alcohol； shaking it well； to bring it to the natural colour of the
alcohol。 It may be coloured to suit the fancy by adding a little tincture
of golden seal； or any other colouring drug。 This receipt has been sold
for 10。
28。 BURNING FLUID
Take 4 quarts alcohol； and 1 quart spirits of turpentine； mix well
together； and it is ready for use。
29。 NON…EXPLOSIVE BURNING FLUID
Take 1 gallon 44 proof alcohol； 1 quart camphene； 3 oz。 of alum
pulverized； 1/2 oz。 camphor gum； 65 drops cuicuma； mix all together and
let it stand 12 hours； and it is ready for use。
30。 VINEGAR IN THREE DAYS WITHOUT DRUGS
Take 2 barrels and saw one of them in two in the centre； and put one…half
on the top； and the other at the bottom of the whole barrel； （or you may
use three whole barrels if you like。） The middle barrel is to be filled
with maple； beech； of baswood shavings； which are to be planed from the
edge of boards only two or three feet long； which allows the shavings to
roll； and prevents them form packing tight； and also allows air to
circulate through them； which is admitted through a number of inch holes；
which are to be made near the bottom of the barrel and just above the
faucet； which lets the vinegar run into the tub below。 The top tub has its
bottom pierced with small bit holes； having several threads of twine
hanging in them to conduct the vinegar evenly over the top of the shavings
in the middle of the barrel。 Air must be permitted to pass out between the
top tub and barrel； which comes in at the holes in the bottom。 The
shavings which fill the barrel must be soaked three or four days in good
vinegar before they are put in。 When thus arranged； for every gallon of
water use 1/2 lb。 of sugar； （that you get from molasses barrels does vary
well。） If you wish to make vinegar from whiskey； put in 4 gallons of water
to 1 gallon of whiskey； and if from cider； put in one…third water； and
fill the top tub with this fluid； putting 1 pint good yeast to each barrel
making； and have the holes with threads or twine so arranged that it will
run through every twelve hours； and dip or pump up with a wooden pump
every night or morning； and three days will make good substantial vinegar；
which will keep and also improve by age。 Some use only 1 gallon of whiskey
to 7 gallons of water。 This accounts for so much poor vinegar。 Make good
vinegar； it will pay you。 If a few gallons of water if made boiling hot so
as to warm the whole of a gentle warmth； it will make faster than if used
cold。 This must be done in cool weather； and the room also should be kept
warm。 For families； small kegs will do； but for manufacturers large casks
are best。 Many make vinegar by just putting fluid into the barrels of
shavings； soaked as directed above； and do not let it run through； but let
it stand in the shavings till sour； but it does not work fast enough for
manufacturers。 It will do where only a small amount is needed； keeping the
same strength of fluid as for the other plan； which is best。 Two or three
years ago； this receipt was sold for from 50 to 150。 If vinegar is made
from whiskey； it will have a more beautiful color if 5 or 6 lbs。 of sugar
is put into each barrel； of course keeping the same proportions of water
as though only one kind was used。 The shavings will last the whole season。
31。 CUBA HONEY
Good brown sugar 11 lbs。； water 1 quart； old bee honey in the comb 2 lbs。；
cream tartar 50 grains； gum arabic 1 oz。； oil of peppermint 5 drops； oil
of rose 2 drops； mix and boil two or three minutes and remove from the
fire； have ready strained one quart of water； in which a table…spoonful of
pulverized slippery elm bark has stood sufficiently long to make it ropy
and thick life honey； mix this into the kettle with egg well beat up； skim
well in a few minutes； and when a little cool； add two pounds of nice
strained bees' honey； and then strain the whole； and you will have not
only an article which looks and tastes like honey； but which possesses all
its medicinal properties。 It has been shipped in large quantities under
the name of Cuba honey。 It will keep fresh and nice for any length of time
if properly covered。
32。 EXCELLENT HONEY
Take 5 lbs。 of good common sugar； two pounds of water； gradually bring to
a boil； skimming well； when cool； add 1 lb。 bees' honey； and 4 drops of
peppermint。 If you desire a better article use white sugar and 1/2 lb。
less water； and one half pound more honey。
33。 GUNPOWDER
Take pulverized saltpetre； moisten it； and subject it to the action of a
slow fire until completely dried and granulated； of this take 75 parts；
purified sugar 12 and a…half parts； moisten and grind together till
completely blended； which will require several hours； pulverize on heaters
till dried。
34。 EXCELLENT MATCHES
The ends of the tapers or wood should be very dry； and then dipped in hot
melted sulphur and laid aside to dry； then take 4 parts of glue； dissolve
it and while hot add one part of phosphorus； and stir in a few spoonsful
of fine whiting to bring to the proper thickness。 This preparation should
be kept hot by being suspended over a lamp； while dipping the wood or
tapers。 Colour the mixture by adding a little vermillion； lamp black or
prussian blue； be careful not to ignite the compound while dipping。
35。