Page:Embroidery and Fancy Work.djvu/98

94 of Canada balsam, or spirits of turpentine, or of a solution of resin in spirits of turpentine. I think the last named is best for colored wax, but the first or second for a white wax. If the wax is frequently melted, it will require a little turpentine added to it. A composition of this kind having been melted in a glue pot, or in any other vessel which will not allow the contents to be overheated, should be poured into oblong tin moulds about two inches deep, two inches and a half wide, and four inches long. These can be made by any tinman; the edges should be turned down at the top and strengthened with wire as with common bread tins. This tin should not be filled quite full, and the wax should be allowed to cool slowly, or it will wrinkle and require re-melting. Slow melting and slow cooling are essential points. When completely cold, the wax will separate from the tin by its own contraction, and may be shaken out by tapping on the bottom of the mould. You have now a Mock of wax which it is required to make into thin sheets, and this is accomplished in the following manner: Obtain a carpenter's spoke-shave, which is flat, and the Made of which is at least an inch broader than your block of wax. In order to prevent the block of wax from slipping while the shaving is going on, the following plan has proved successful. Have a hard piece of wood cut in the shape of a capital T. The cross piece should be the width of the block of wax, and the leg should be about three inches long. This leg must be inserted in a square hole in the table on which you intend shaving. A plug can be made to fit into it when the hole would be inconvenient. When shaving the block of wax, the top of the cross piece of the T should be kept as near the upper edge of the wax as will allow the spoke shave to pass easily over it. The shave must be well warmed at the fire or by dipping it into hot water. If you have two shaves you can warm one, while