The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-06-14
Making Staining Mixtures and How to
Apply Them.

Apply IDems
The practice of staining board floors
a darker tin than their original color,
or to represent woods of greater cost,
is now almost universal, and is the first
step toward that thing of beauty, a high
art drawing-room. This room, with its
Persian rugs and portieres, its books
and bric-a-bra !, its bits of old blue and
gems in oil, with here bit of cleaning
brass, and there the mellow light from
cathedral window, may we'll be- the
pride and aim of frivolous woman AS
foundation for this aesthetic room, a
hoor-sta ned to represent dark, old oak
is pSeferred by many. The mixture for
accomplishing this is sold at all paint
shops and comes in grades one, two,
three and four, varying light to dark.
Light polished floors are now much pre-
ferred at present, although great deal
depends upon the condition of the
boards. If the boards are fine and
smooth grained, satin wood or pitch
pine stain and polish is preferred, but il
the floor is old or rough it is folly to at
tempt any ain except that of dark oak
or dark mahogany. Some of the mix
lures used for this can be put on with
a rag, although a brush is better.
Pour the liquid into a sau-
Ger, dip the brush in, saturate
thoroughly, rub evenly over the wood
and dry instantly with soft cloth.
To insure success this must he
done quickly and, it is useless to add,
evenly. For the ultra-fashionable floor,
which is of pale shade of oak, sized
and vanished, buy the desired amount
OF raw SIENNA powder, mix with water,
and rub into the boards as directed
above. The effect at first is enough
to strike terror into the heart of any
mortal, it is so painfully, glaringly
yellow, But sizing tones down strong
color surprisingly. and the polish
brings it to ultimate perfection. For
mahogany staining make mixture
containing half a pound of madden,
two ounces of logwood chips boiled in
gallon OF water; brush this over the
wood while hot. When dry go over
this with q solution of pearlash, two
drachms TO one quart of water, size
and polish. If redder shade is re-
quired it can be produced by smear
ing the surface with . strong solution
of permanganate of potash, which is
left on for a longer or shorter time, ac-
cording to the shade required; in
most cases Ave minutes win be- enough.
The wood is then carefully washed,
dried and polished In the ordinary way.
A good, cheap oak stain is made oil
equal parts of American potash and
pear ash, two ounces OF each to quart
of water. As American potash is sol
vent, care must be taken to keep it from
sed, Rs il is of no good atterward.
This stain an be kept corked in q
bottle, ami is useful TO have in the
house in case the floors are scratched.
when it may be used TO repair them. IL
tn color is too deep it may lie weakened
with water.
Another stain of simple character is
made by diluting Brunswick black with
turpen inc until it becomes as light as
the prevailing ia hion demands This
is a useful thing TO have in the house,
with which to repair furniture when it
Is clipped or dishgured Oak furniture
which has suffered in the same way
may be touched up with bichromate Of
potassium, which brings up the color to
the necessary shade. In using any
powde it is always advisable to blend
them first with small quantity OF liquid,
rubbing out every little lump and
dissolving the powder as far as posi-
BILE. Raw SIENNA is frequently mixed
with beer. If the wood to be stained is
ap article of furniture or floor that
is to be seen in a strong light, it is a
good plan to filter the stain NO Def
applying it. This straining can
be done through an ordinary cloth, and
then the liquii should be applied slowly
and evenly, only lite on the surface
b ing done at one time. The polishing
Of stained wood is process on which
much depends. No matter what sur
face Is given coat of size must be laid
overthe staining. 1.-THE wood be old two
coats would be desirable. If the var
nish lie added 1t is liable to crack and to
come off when walked upon. The floor
soon becomes shabby. If the room is
ever to be used for dancing the neces-
sity for polished surface which will
grow better rather than worse is appar-
ent. The following is a good floor pol
ish to follow the size: CASTLE soap one
part white wax four parts yellow wax
eight parts, turpentine twenty parts,
soft water twenty parts. The soap,
finely scraped, is melted in the water,
the wax dissolved in the turpentine.
TIE whole mixed together is creamy
compound, Of which very little needs to
be used at time.
Not only the floors but the margins OF
the staircase, the sides of the corridors
and saddles of doors are now emanci-
pated from the paint-pot and stained to
suit the taste, producing an effect de-
lightful to the eye as well as beneficial
to the purse. Cincinnati Commercial.
The Bottom Side Down.