CARE OF PAINTS AND BRUSHES To Keep Paint Fresh.—Any paint left over after using must be sealed. Or it may be kept fresh in an open can or pail by merely filling up the vessel with water. When the paint is again needed the water may be poured off. But take care that the water does not evaporate, as in that case the paint will be ruined.
Care of Brushes. — Paint brushes should not be left in paint or allowed to rest on the bristles in such a way as to curve the bristles to one side. After using, thcy should be thoroughly cleaned with turpentine and dried. Or the bristles should be immersed in a slow-drying varnish, the handles be ing suspended so that the bristles will not touch the bottom of the can, and the whole covered to keep out the air.
Or clean brushes first in linseed oil, then in warm soapsuds, and hang up to dry.
Or, if likely to be used again short ly, they may be suspended in water, oil, or varnish. But take care that these materials do not evaporate and allow the brush to get dry, as it may be ruined.
To preserve brushes for future use without cleaning, bore a hole through the handle, string them on a wire, and suspend in a covered can containing linseed oil or varnish sufficient to cov er the bristles. Close the can tightly to prevent evaporation.
To Clean Paint Brushes. — When brushes become hard or gummed with oil and paint, soak the bristles in soft soap for two or three days, but do not immerse the head of the brush. Then soak out the paint in hot water.
To Paint Furniture. — Furniture, cabinetwork, carriages, and the like, which require a highly finished sur face, should first have all old paints and varnish removed by means of burning or otherwise, and the surface refinished, Or, if the old paint is not badly checked or cracked, it may be suffi cient to wash the work quite clean and rub it down to a dead finish with a wet cloth and ground pum ice powder, and again wash and dry before painting. This takes off all
grease and oil, and provides a sur face on which paint and varnish will lie smoothly and adhere.
Dryer for Paint.—Bring 6+ pounds of water to a boil, and slowly stir in / pound of shellac and + pound of borax. Stir constantly until a com plete emulsion is formed. This solu tion is a resinous varnish which, like paint, is waterproof and resists the action of the elements. To use this as a dryer, mix equal quantities of this solution with oil paints and thin slightly with turpentine, stirring to make a complete emulsion. Prepare this mixture only as wanted, since it dries in 10 to 20 minutes.
To Thin Oil Paint with Water.— Dissolve 1 pound of gum shellac in 3 pints of water, adding + pound of sal soda or a little more if necessary, and stir until all is dissolved. When cold, bottle for use. Instead of tur pentine or benzine thinners, add to oil paints of any kind 1 pint of the gum shellac mixture to 2 quarts of oil paint. Afterwards thin with wa ter to any desired consistency.