The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-11
Linseed Oil and ats Uses.

a correspondent TO trade journal
writes: Linseed oil is generally pre-
pared by cold or warm pressing of
fiaxseed. Its employment in the man.
ufacture of oil paints is owing to its
drying properties. When spread out
in thin layers it dries and forms solid
varnish-like body. Fresh linseed oil
always contains watery and gummy
bodies, from which it must be separat-
ed before being used. The simplest
method for purifying and clarifying
linseed oil consists in storing it for
several months and then carefully
drawing it off from the sediment. The
coloration and oxidation of linseed oil
is due to the absorption of oxygen from
the air. and it is for this reason that
linseed oil should be stored in hermet-
ically sealed vessels, if possible in the
dark.
When linseed oil is to be used for
paints, its drying properties must be
improved; that is, it must be converted
into varnish. For this purpose q
parts of litharge are placed into an
iron or copper boiler with fifty parts of
old clarified lnseed oil. The oil is then
carefully heated to boiling. At the end
of about one hour dirty scum forms
on the surface of the oil, which must
be removed as it forms. Precautions
| must be taken to prevent the oil from
boiling over. 1t is advisable to have a
proper cover and wet cloths at hand
Tor extinguishiDg the fire in case the
| oil should become overheated. On a
large scale jacketed boilers heated by
| steam are used. After the oil has boil
| ed three-quarters of an hour, it Is al
| lowed to cool and settle. At the end
| of two or three days, sometimes after
twenty-four hours. the clear oil Is
| drawn off. The linseed-oil varnish OBJ
tanned in this way has a pale wine col
or, is clear and transparent, and more
viscous than the original oil. 1t does
not froth when poured out, and drie:
to an almost colorless mass. Linseed
| oil yarnish should be kept in bottles
1t may be ground with various colors
| and used for painting wood, iron
brick-work, etc. Melted together witt
resins, especially with copal and am
Der, it may be used as a waterproof
paint on wood, etc.
To make white oil paint this lin
seed-oil varnish is generally groun'
with lead; and in case colored paint
are to be prepared, ocher. Naples yel
low, terra de sienna, chrome red, ver
million. etc, are added. Wnen wood
en- floors are to be painted, they shoul'
| first be saturated with linseed oil. 70
this purpose the oil should not be use
cold, but always warm, because tn
heated oil is more fluid, and penetrate
the wood to greater depth.
Oil putties generally consist OF hr
seed oil, varnish. and litharge, or ca
cined chalk. This putty is graduall
converted into soap, which is perfec
ly insoluble in water. Its hardnes
may be increased by the addition
quartz sand or brick-dust. In pain
inr. the finest purified and bleache
Il linseed oil is often required Such q
oil may be prepared oy treating Il
varnisn, prepared as above, with s.
luton of sugar of lead. The sugar
lead solution is prepared By dissoiyin
i one part OF sugar Of lead In sixtee
parts of alcohol; one hundred poun.
Of linsced oil are heated 10 % or w q
grees. and then thoroughly mixed WI
| i've or six pounds Of the alcoholic le;
: solution. The oil is then left at re
: for three or four days, and the eiea
: bleached oil is drawn off from the Sc
iment. The sediment may be fret
j | from the gummy matter by nItratio