Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/379

345&#93; woo wood bine, is that of dissolving verdigrease in distilled vinegar ; then making a separate solution of 2 oz. of pure pearl-ashes in a pint of water : the former liquid should be first repeatedly applied to the surface of the wood, till it be of a sufficiently deep green colour ; •when the latter preparation must be drawn over it, with a soft painter's brush, as often as may be necessary to change it to a proper blue cast. Green : — Dissolve purified ver- digrease in distilled vinegar, or in aqua-fortis diluted with 15 or 20 times its weight of water, and ap- ply the solution to wood previously warmed. Purple : — ^Take 1 oz. of log- wood, and 2 drams of Brazil-wood; boil them together in a quart of water, shwly, over a moderate fire : when one-half of the fluid is evaporated, it must be strained, and several times laid on the wood, with a proper brush, till it have re- ceived a dark-red shade. Thus prepared, and being allowed to become perfe6tly dry, it may be changed to a fine purple shade, by drawing over it repeatedly a weak- solution of the purest pearl-ash, namely, one dram in a pint of water. Some dexterity, however, must be exerted on this occasion ; as, by too sudden and frequent applications of either of the two liquids, the colour is very apt to assume a dark blue, instead of a purple shade. Red : — Take 2 oz. of Brazil- wood, and 2 drams of purified pot-asb; mix them with a quart of water J and let the composition • stand in a warm place for several days > stirring it occasionally. — "When sufficiently extracted, the coioured liquor must be decantc(^ woo [34J moderately warmed, and in that state applied to the wood as many times as may be deemed necessary for giving it a more or less bright cast. Next, a solution of alum, in the proportion of 2 oz. to a quart of water, is to be laid on the wood (while it is still wet from the former stain) with a soft brush, or other instrument. — After polishing the articles thus stained, their co- lour may be rendered still more beautiful and permanent, by giv- ing them one or more coats, with a varnish prepared of shell- lac. Yellow : — This delicate tint may be easily imparted to wood, which is naturally white : for this purpose, take 1 oz. of pulverized turmeric, and a pint of redified spirit of wine; shake them in a glass bottle; allow the infusion to stand for se'eral days, closely co- vered : then decant the liquor, and lay it on the wood repeatedly, as may be found necessaiy,— i-A cheaper method, however> con- sists in applying weak aqua-fortis to wood- previously warmed, and immediately after the stain is given, holding it to the fire, at some dis- tance, till it acquire the desired cast. But it should be remarked, that the aqua-fortis must be suffi-' ciently dilurtd with water ; as, otherwise, the wood is apt to ac*- 'quire a brown or blackish hue. la order to improve the articles thus stained, the same expedients may- be adopted, as those suggested in the preceding paragraph. lb conclude : — As it is fre- quently an objed of some import- ance, to close and secure thechinks, flaws, or otlier accidental defetits in wooden vessels, in the most expeditious manner, we con- ceive that a tough paste, com- posed, oi wbiting, a solution of gura-