FIREPROOFING AND WATER PROOFING To Prevent Fires.—The following substances are recommended for fire proofing cloth and other materials: Alum, borax, vitriol, copperas, sul phate of ammonia, soluble glass, tung state of soda, and phosphate of am monia; also various combinations and preparations of these.
To Fireproof Cloth. — Mix equal quantities of alum, borax, and vitriol, or copperas; dissolve with boiling wa ter or a thin size made by melting an ounce of glue or gum arabic in a gallon of water. Use no more water than is necessary to dissolve perfectly. Dilute the mixture to liquid form and soak the fabric in this. This prepara tion is for articles to be used about stoves and flames, as holders, fire screens, and the like.
To Fireproof Garments.—Mix tung state of soda with boiled starch, or dissolve alum in water, or both. The tungstate of soda does not interfere with the ironing and is the best sub stance to fireproof children's garments, lace curtains, and other light fabrics which are in danger of taking fire.
To Fireproof Fabrics.—Dissolve 12 ounces of borax and 9 ounces of sul phate of magnesia in 5 pounds of boiling water. In this immerse the fabric when cool.
Or dip the fabric in soluble glass.
diluted with boiling water to 25° B. Hang to drip dry without wringing. While still damp, immerse in a solu tion of 1 pound of sulphate of alu mina and 1 pound of sulphate of copper in 10 pounds of water. Dry without wringing in the open air.
To Fireproof Canvas.—To fireproof canvas awnings or other coarse mate rials, make a hot solution of 3 parts of alum and 1 part of copperas. Im merse the articles three times, letting them drip dry between each immer sion. Finally let dry and by means of a brush apply a solution of cop peras mixed with pipe clay to the consistency of paint. This is a cele brated German recipe.
To Fireproof Wood.—To fireproof wood impregnate it with alum, borax, or copperas, or a mixture of these.
Or mix 2/ pounds sulphate of zinc, 1 pound of potash, 2 pounds of alum, and 1 pound of manganic oxide with lukewarm water in an iron kettle. Stir
and add slowly 1 pound of sulphuric acid, 60 per cent pure. Dissolve the same proportions by weight for larger quantities. To apply, build up the pieces of wood corncob fashion, and wrap them at their points of junc ture with sufficient wire to keep them at least an inch apart. This method ad mits of immersing the greatest quan tity of wood in the smallest bulk of liquid. Place the wood thus prepared in an old iron sink or tank and pour the liquid over it. Allow it to soak three or four hours, afterwards to drip dry, and season under shade in the open air.
To Waterproof Cloth. — Substances recommended for waterproofing cloth are alum, acetate of lead (sugar of lead), linseed oil, and solutions of India rubber, isinglass, and wax in turpentine and other solvents, or mix tures of the above in varying propor tions. India rubber and other close waterproof fabrics are impervious to air as well as moisture; hence they are hot, close, and uncomfortable, besides being unhealthful. Ordinary fabrics, as wool, linen, or cotton, duck, canvas, and the like, may be made waterproof by immersing in any of the above mix tures without affecting their porous qualities.
The following methods are recom mended: Dissolve in a wash boiler 1 ounce of yellow soap in 4 gallons of water and bring it to a boil. Allow the liquid to cool and when cold im merse the fabric for twenty-four hours. Remove without wringing, and let it drip till partially dry. While still moist immerse it in a solution of / pound of alum and / pound of sugar of lead in 3 gallons of water. Dissolve these substances separately each in 1/ gallons of water, stir vig orously, and mix the two solutions. Soak the fabric in this for three or four hours, and hang it up to drip dry. When nearly dry it may be dipped again if desired.
Or, for delicate fabrics, allow the mixture to settle, pour off the clear liquid from the sediment, and immerse in this. Fabrics thus treated are par tially fireproof as well as waterproof.