French Polishing and Enamelling: A Practical Work of Instruction — Themes and Context

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FRENCH POLISHING AND ENAMELLING

A Practical Work of Instruction

INCLUDING NUMEROUS RECIPES FOR MAKING POLISHES, VARNISHES, GLAZE-LACQUERS, REVIVERS, ETC.

AUTHOR OF "THE CABINET-MAKER'S GUIDE," "THE UPHOLSTERER'S GUIDE," ETC. Fourth Edition

LONDON CROSBY LOCKWOOD AND SON 7, STATIONERS' HALL COURT, LUDGATE HILL 1910

[_All rights reserved_]

PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, LONDON AND BECCLES.

Early in the present century the method generally adopted for polishing furniture was by rubbing with beeswax and turpentine or with linseed-oil. That process, however, was never considered to be very satisfactory, which fact probably led to experiments being made for the discovery of an improvement. The first intimation of success in this direction appeared in the _Mechanic's Magazine_ of November 22, 1823, and ran as follows: "The Parisians have now introduced an entirely new mode of polishing, which is called _plaque_, and is to wood precisely what plating is to metal. The wood by some process is made to resemble marble, and has all the beauty of that article with much of its solidity. It is even asserted by persons who have made trial of the new mode that water may be spilled upon it without staining it." Such was the announcement of an invention which was destined ultimately to become a new industry.

The following pages commence with a description of the art of French Polishing in its earliest infancy, care having been taken by the Author, to the best of his ability, to note all the new processes and manipulations, as well as to concisely and perspicuously arrange and describe the various materials employed, not only for French polishing but for the improving and preparation of furniture woods, a matter of great importance to the polisher. The arts of Staining and Imitating, whereby inferior woods are made to resemble the most costly, are also fully treated, as well as the processes of Enamelling, both in oil-varnishes and French polish, together with the method of decorating the same. The condition of the art of polishing in America is dwelt upon, and various interesting articles written by practical polishers in the States, which appeared in their trade journal, _The Cabinet-maker_, have been revised and printed in this work.

A number of valuable recipes, and other instructive matter, useful alike to the amateur and to the practical workman, are also given.

CHAPTER I. _THE IMPROVING AND PREPARATION OF FURNITURE WOODS._ PAGE Improving 2 Matching 3 Painting 5 Dyed Polishes 6

CHAPTER II. _STAINS AND IMITATIONS._ Imitation Mahogany 8 Imitation Rosewood 8 Imitation Walnut 9 Imitation Ebony 10 Imitation Oak 11 Imitation Satin-wood 12 A Blue Stain 13 A Green Stain 13 A Purple Stain 13 A Red Stain 14 Imitation Purple-wood Stain 14 Chemicals used in Staining 15 Process of Staining 16 Ready-made Wood Stains 17

CHAPTER III. _FRENCH POLISHING._ The Polish Used 18 Rubbers 22 Position 24 Filling-in 25 Applying the Polish 26 Spiriting-off 30 Prepared Spirits 32 Antique Style 32 Dull or Egg-shell Polish 33 Polishing in the Lathe 34

CHAPTER IV. _CHEAP WORK._ Glazing 37 Stencilling 39 Charcoal Polishing 40

CHAPTER V. _RE-POLISHING OLD WORK_ 42

CHAPTER VI. _SPIRIT VARNISHING._ Varnishes 46 Brushes and Pencils 47 Mode of Operation 47 East Indian Varnishes 48

CHAPTER VII. _GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS._ Remarks on Polishing 51 The Polishing Shop 52

CHAPTER VIII. _ENAMELLING._ Materials 57 Tools 58 Mode of Operation 58 Polishing 60 Another Process 61 Decorations 63

CHAPTER IX. _AMERICAN POLISHING PROCESSES._ Use of Fillers 65 Making Fillers 70 Japan of the Best Quality 70 Fillings for Light Woods 70 Another for Light Woods 70 For Mahogany or Cherry Wood 71 For Oak Wood 71 For Rosewood 71 For Black Walnut (1) 71 " (2) 71 An Oil Colour for Black Walnut (3) 72 Finishing 73 Black Walnut Finishing 75 Finishing Veneered Panels, etc. 78 Light Woods (Dead Finish) 79 Mahogany or Cherry Wood 79 Oak 79 Rosewood, Coromandel, or Kingwood (a Bright Finish) 79 Walnut 80 Finishing Cheap Work 81 With One Coat of Varnish 81 Wax Finishing 82 A Varnish Polish 82 With Copal or Zanzibar Varnish 83 Polishing Varnish 85 An American Polish Reviver 86

CHAPTER X. _MISCELLANEOUS RECIPES._ Oil Polish 87 Wax Polish 87 Waterproof French Polish 88 Varnish for Musical Instruments 88 French Varnish for Cabinet-work 89 Mastic Varnish 89 Cabinet-maker's Varnish 90 Amber Varnish 90 Colourless Varnish with Copal 90 Seedlac Varnish 91 Patent Varnish for Wood or Canvas 91 Copal Varnish 91 Carriage Varnish 92 Transparent Varnish 92 Crystal Varnish for Maps, etc. 92 Black Varnish 92 Black Polish 93 Varnish for Iron 93 Varnish for Tools 93 To Make Labels Adhere to a Polished Surface 94 To Remove French Polish or Varnish from Old Work 94 Colouring for Carcase Work 94 Cheap but Valuable Stain for the Sap of Black Walnut 95 Polish (American) for Removing Stains, etc., from Furniture 96 Walnut Stain to be used on Pine and White-wood 96 Rosewood Stain 97 Rosewood Stain for Cane Work, etc. 97 French Polish Reviver 98 Morocco Leather Reviver 98 Hair-cloth Reviver 99 To Remove Grease Stains from Silks, Damasks, Cloth, etc. 99 To Remove Ink Stains from White Marble 99

CHAPTER XI. _MATERIALS USED._ Alkanet-root 100 Madder-root 100 Red-sanders 101 Logwood 101 Fustic 102 Turmeric 102 Indigo 103 Persian Berries 103 Nut-galls 103 Catechu 103 Thus 104 Sandarach 104 Mastic 104 Benzoin 104 Copal 105 Dragon's Blood 106 Shellac 106 Amber 107 Pumice-stone 107 Linseed-oil 108 Venice Turpentine 110 Oil of Turpentine 110 Methylated Spirits 110

_THE IMPROVING AND PREPARATION OF FURNITURE WOODS._