Or dissolve one pound of alum in a gallon of boiling water. Allow the liquid to cool and soak the fabric in it, but this is not equal to the mixture of alum and sugar of lead.
Or put 5 pounds of sulphate of alu mina in 1/ gallons of water; in a separate receptacle dissolve 2 pounds of oleic acid and 1/ quarts of alcohol. Stir vigorously until dissolved. Now add the sulphate of alumina in a thin stream, mix and allow it to settle for twenty-four hours. Pour off the clear liquid, which may be discarded. Dry the residue with heat, and pulverize. Make a solution of this substance at the rate of 1 pound to 10 gallons of water to waterproof any silk, linen, or woolen fabric. Immerse the cloth or garment until it is thoroughly sat urated, and afterwards allow it to drip dry.
Or mix 4 ounces of isinglass, 4 ounces of alum, and 2 ounces of yel low soap, and dissolve in hot water to form an emulsion about the consist ency of milk. Apply with a stiff brush to the wrong side of the fabric, rubbing thoroughly. Remove the ex / cess by sponging with water, or with a brush dipped in water, and rub smooth with a dry brush.
Or dissolve pure India rubber and turpentine to a thin solution, and ap ply with a brush. Afterwards apply a coating of sugar of lead dissolved in water.
To Waterproof and Color Black.— Raise to a boil 4 quarts of linseed oil and stir in 1 ounce of burnt umber, 1 ounce of acetate of lead, and 15 ounces of lampblack. Dry and apply a second coat of the same solution, leaving out the sugar of lead. Allow this to dry and rub it down with a stiff bristle brush. Apply a third coat if desired.
Or raise to a boil 4 quarts of lin seed oil. Add 3 ounces of burnt um ber, 2 ounces of sugar of lead, ounces of sulphate of zinc, 2 ounces of Prussian blue, and 1 ounces of verdigris. Stir these into the oil and add 10 ounces of lampblack, stirring vigorously. Apply with a brush as in painting. Two or three coats of either of these mixtures should give a hard, durable waterproof surface of a black color and having a high gloss.
To Waterproof Canvas Tents or Awnings.—Mix 8 pounds of white lead with one fourth by bulk spirits of turpentine. Stir in 1 ounce of su gar of lead and 1 ounce of white vitriol. Dilute with boiled linseed oil to the consistency of paint.
First boil the fabric in suds and rinse clean. Or scrub with soap and water and a stiff brush, afterwards applying water with a brush to remove all traces of soap. Apply the water proofing with a painter's brush and stretch tightly while drying.