The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-04-26
HOW OIL CLOTH rs MADE.


The Polytechnic ReUle5g has heei
looking into the manufacture of oi
cloth, and from the result of its investi
cations we take general description
of the process, which we believe vii
be interesting to all readers; The OF
cloth, so called, as used for foo
covering, consists of strong jute cloth
("burlap') covered with mineral colors
ground in oil The burlaps weigh
from nine ounces to twelve ounce pei
square yard. Their open texture
must be filled up, and a smooth, heavy
ground color put on before the recep.
ton of the pattern. For best quality
of goods, from six TO eight coats OF
ochoe aud whiting, ground in linseed
oil, are applied. The cloth for thiId
quality goods is 'starched' with a
glue size as a priming coat, receiving
afterward several coats of oil color.
The painting machine" is primitive
in construction, but rapid and etfectual
in operation it is used for either
starching or grounding with oil. The
so yard roll is attached by hooks to
the base of wooden triangle, and a
rope attached to the apex of the tri-
angle drags the roll through the paint
eI and alongside a drying rack. The
paint is applied with a dipper and is
spread by the cloth passing between an
oil cloth cushion and a steel knife edge,
slanting ins sthe direction of motion.
Fifty lIneal yards a minute can be
printed in all from 5000 to 10 600 yds.
in the various grades are daily print
ed in the whole establishment. After
each of the first four coats of oil color,
the goods must be shaved" as the
fibers of burlap make the surface some
what fuzzy and uneven. The shaving"
machine has a table over which the
cloth is passed, lightly stretched, while
two bars. each bearing two pumice
stone "brick" (of more according to
width), scrub the surface with longi-
tudinal and traversing motion, imitat-
ing hand-scrubbing. The pumice stone
rubbing gives a fine, even surface aid
after the last ground coat the pattern
or color blocks may be applied. The
blocks employed in printing are
similar to those used in wallpaper
printing, being maple blocks, one cut
for each color. these blocks are
either in peg-work or rule work, The
first are made by saving the blocks
lengthwise and crosswise with a cir
cular saw (leaving square pegs" pro-
jecting), and then cutting away those
portions not intended to print The
line work has its design in parallel
lines only. The brass or copper blocks
have the design placed in the fat
blocks and then sharp brass rules
driven into the required outlines.
PegNwOrk is repaired by driving in
copper wire cut square at one end and
sharp at the other. Line work is
repaired by brass rules driven in. The
felt filling u2ed between the rules of
some wall paper blocks is not here
employed, as preventing proper i'm
pressions. For mat-work the block
embraces one-fourth of the pattern,
and must be of such a character as to
admit being turned to prevent success
sive corner quarters. After all the
single color impressions have been
given, one block, called the "masher,"
hHlCh Has nv OOlOl eilBliCb W IL ullNt
which has on it the whole pattern, is
applied, and given a strong impression
After printing, drying IS in order, and
should last at least ten days The
older oil cloth is, the better, as the
paint hardens, DRYERS" injuriousiy
affect the linseed oil air drying is
preferable, but the American market
cannot afford it. In England, piece
of oil cloth is frequently six months in
here it is generally but thirty
lays The heat is graduated to l3O
o'ahrenheit, running up 800 The
pigments employed are YER
fnilliOn, drop black, Venetian red,
Sienna, chrome yellows, white lead
and umbers. After printing and dry
ing, vanishing is in order, copal
being sprinkled on the roll
nd distributed by two vibrating arms,
sha. bearing five soft brushes. The
III IL is handled by means of the triangle
shd drag rope, and hauled through
s.nd into the drying racks.