Or, for larger quantities, mix 23 pounds of mastic with 1 pound of clean crushed glass and 1 gallon of rectified spirits of turpentine. Put the whole in a large jug or glass bot tle, cork tightly, and shake or agi tate the bottle until the gum is dis solved. Let the whole stand several months, the longer the better. Pour off the clear liquor from the top for use.
Mastic and Sandarac Varnish. Mix equal quantities of gum sandarac and gum mastic dissolved in alcohol. Let stand forty-eight hours to settle, and strain through linen. Apply by means of a camel's-hair brush.
Or dissolve ounce of gum cam phor in 3 pints of 95 per cent alco hol, and add 5 ounces of sandarac and 2 ounces of mastic. Cork tightly in a glass bottle, shake until dissolved, and let stand 48 hours or more in a warm place to settle. Pour off the clear liquor. This is suitable for drawings, prints, dry plants or flow ers, and similar fine work.
Balsam Varnish.—Size colored de signs, as water colors, maps, litho graphs, and colored prints, with one or more coats of a solution of gum arabic or isinglass in water, or of boiled rice or wheat starch, and then apply a varnish composed of 2 parts of spirits of turpentine and 1 part of Canada balsam, or equal parts of each. Apply by means of a flat cam el's-hair brush.
Or dissolve 3 ounces of Canada bal sam, 3 ounces of white rosin, and 1 part of oil of turpentine.
Or, for a cheaper article, 6 ounces of pale-white rosin dissolved in 1 pint of turpentine.
Or dissolve 3 ounces of Canada bal sam in 3 pint of turpentine, and add 3 ounces of pale copal varnish.
Shellac Varnish.—Heat in a suit able saucepan 5 ounces of clean ani mal charcoal, pour over this while warm 1 pint of 95 per cent alcohol, add 23 ounces of pale shellac, and boil carefully over a slow fire, cover ing loosely to prevent too much evap oration.
Test the solution by filtering a sam ple, and if not colorless add cf, little more charcoal. When the liquor is colorless, strain through a piece of white silk and filter with filter paper.
This givOs a perfectly colorless liquor which dries quickly and does not chill or bloom. Apply by means of a cam el's-hair brush at a temperature of at least 60° F. in an atmosphere free from dust. This is one of the best and purest of all varnishes, is com monly used by bookbinders, and may be applied to the finest oil paintings after the oil is thoroughly dried and hard, to drawings, prints, gilding, and all ornaments likely to be injured by damp, as it resists damp and pre vents mildew.
Bookbinder's Varnish.—Dissolve in 1 quart of alcohol 2 ounces of shellac, ounce of benzoin, and 3 ounce of mastic. Shake until dissolved and add ounce of oil of lavender.
Isinglass Size. — Put 4 ounces of isinglass shavings in a glass bottle with an equal quantity of water, and let stand 24 hours or more to soften. Add 1 pint of 95 per cent alcohol, and in this dissolve the isinglass in a double boiler with gentle heat. Cork the bottle to prevent evaporation, but not tightly enough to cause explosion. Apply two or three coats, letting each coat dry before the next is applied, and following with any of the above print varnishes.
Parchment Varnish. — Put white parchment cuttings with water in a glass or earthenware vessel, and boil in a double boiler until a clear jell or size is produced. Strain through cheese cloth. Apply one or more coats by means of a camel's-hair brush.
Varnish for Musical Instruments. —Dissolve together with gentle heat a ounces of gum sandaric, 1 ounce of seed-lac, 1 ounce of mastic, 1 ounce of benj amin in tears, and 1 ounce of Venetian turpentine in 16 ounces of pure alcohol. Stir in 2 ounces of pounded glass.
Or dissolve in 1 quart of 95 per cent alcohol 3 ounces of sandarac, 1/ ounces of mastic, and 1 gill of tur pentine varnish. Mix together in a glass bottle and shake until dissolved. This may be thinned with additional turpentine varnish if desired.