1867 Six Hundred Receipts by John Marquart

600 MISCELLANEOUS VALUABLE RECEIPTS.

120

No. 233. Seed-Lac Varnish. Take 3 ounces seed-lac, and put it, with a pint of Bpirits of wine, into a bottle of which it will not fill more than two-thirds. Shake the mixture well together, and place it in a gentle heat till the seed- lac appears to be dissolved : the solution will be hastened by shaking the bottle occasional l3\ After it has stood some time, pour off the clear part, and keep it for use in a well-stopped bottle. The seed- lac should be purified before it is used, by washing it in cold water; and it should be in coarse powder when added to the spirit. This varnish is next to that of copal in hardness, and has a reddish-yellow colour : it is, therefore, only to be used where a tinge of that kind is not injurious. Take 5 ounces of the best shell-lac, reduce it to a gross powder, and put it into a bottle in a gentle heat, or a warm, close apartment, where it must continue 2 or 3 days, but should be frequently well shaken. The lac will then be dissolved, and the solution should then be filtered through a flannel bag ; and, when the portion that will pass through freely is come off, it should be kept for use in well- stopped bottles. The portion which can only be made to pass through the bag by pressure may be reserved for coarse purposes. Shell-lac varnish is rather softer than seed-lac varnish, but is the best of varnishes No. 234. Shell-Lac Varnish.