STAINING AND VARNISHING NEW INTERIOR SOFTWOODS All woodwork shall receive one light coat of 25 per cent linseed oil and 75 per cent turpentine. Sandpaper and stain in best manner, with an oil stain containing about 50 per cent turpentine; color to be selected. Close up all nail-holes and other imperfections with lead putty colored to match stain, being careful to wipe off any surplus putty marks. Varnish all stained work two good coats of a strong wearing body varnish, the last coat to be evenly flowed on. Sandpaper between coats, each coat to be thoroughly dry before another is applied. (See Note 16.) NOTE 16—The purpose of applying a thin coat of oil to the woodwork before staining is that certain portions of the surface may be very much softer than others; in fact it may appear in spots, all .over. With the application of the oil as specified, you in a measure stop the suction of those soft places, and get a practically uniform surface on which to work the stain. A thin coat of shellac instead of the oil might be used, but I prefer the oil as thinned with the turpentine, as I get a more uniform absorption into the wood for the stain, the shellac in a measure stopping absorption.
For a flat surface I would specify rubbing with oil and pumice stone to a dull finish; for close rubbing I would specify one additional coat of varnish. This specification would apply to white and yellow pine, poplar, cypress, etc.