The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-11-10
PAINTING FOR PROFIT.


Implements, Gates and Barns.
Paint sinks into the pores of wood
and covers its surface, protecting it
from air and water, the two great
agents of decay. Yet strange to say
farmers are slow to use paint. Brown
mineral paint is very cheap and any
farmer can mix it with the oil. 1t is
good for outbuildings and roofs. Many
farmers are kept from using paint be-
cause they think ahigh-priced mechanic
must be employed to mix and apply it.
But for outside work and implements
the farmer can mix any paints he needs,
or he can buy paints already mixed;
and he can put them on himself. Roofs
are rarely painted, and yet they need
the protection of paint as much as any
part of the building, and their dura-
bility will be doubled if they are kept
protected. 1t will pay to paint the
boards of an ordinary fence; and it is
highly profitable first to paint the part
that comes against the post. If this be
done and the nails are dipped in paint
just before they are driven, the boards
will last three times as long as they
would without paint.
When make a gate paint all lemons
and all parts that join before the gate
is put together, and then paint the gate
we'll when it is done; and l have now
pine gates twenty-five years old that are
sound. 1t will pay to drive the heads
of the nails below the surface, using
spike, and then fill the hole with putty
before the gate, fence or whatever 1t
may be, IS painted. The putty and
paint will prevent rusting OF the nails
and decay OF the wood. am now
using wagon-the first ever bought
and the only one l had for some years
that have had in hard use for
twenty-six years, and it is yet good
wagon; have given it coat of paint
every third year. From my own ex-
perience, and observation among neigh
bors, know that paint rightly used
will increase the durability of plows,
harrows and the other commoner i'm
plements one-half, and of machinery
seventy-tive to one hundred per cent
70 farm implements and machinery
the paint must be applied to the metal
as well as to the wood; and it is highly
important that both be first thoroughly
cleaned. For implements, gates, ETC.,
it is better to use red lead paint. 1t
costs more than the brown mineral,
and it is not 80 convenient, as only
enough for immediate use should be
mixed at q time, but for the work
designated it is far the better. Mix it
with boiled oil. Use tablespoonful Of
Japan drier to each pint of oil. This
paint is waterproof and very good
cement. hence is just the thing to use
when joining tanks or troughs, and on
them when they are completed. The
paint must be stirred occasionally, else
it will settle. Paint applied to farm
machinery makes it more durable
Breakages nearly always occur because
OF the unnotlced decay of the wood or
rusting of the metal part, which would
have been avoided by the application of
paint Moreover, the paint permits OF
better work. Good work can not be
uOnc Will d luoIJ uOO, AOihs pAOW VI
mower. And as the paint makes the
implement look more neat the user of
it naturally tries to do better work
with it.
The little kegs containing the red
lead are just the tn 'ngs to mix the paint
in. They are quite heavy, hence are
not easily overturned. You will need a
fat brush for large surfaces, and small
stripping" with which to get into the
corners. And I do not think you can
spend money to better advantage, or do
more profitable work, than in giving
implements and machines a coat OF
paint as they are put away for the sea-
son. Two coatings will be better than
one, and likely three will be none too
many. Some object to paint an axe,
fork or rake handles. If this objection
cannot be overcome, at least coat these
parts with linseed oil. If it is applied
hot, it will be better absorbed. While
the oil alone is not so good a preserva-
tive as when mixed with paint, it will
protect quite we'll from decay. 1t also
increases the durability of these handles
by preserving the fiber of the wood,
preventing it from becoming brittle OF
brash John ~ Stab, in N T. Trib
| Hns.