The Red Cloud chief., 1892-06-17
FURNITURE.


H~ousekeepers.
In almost every household there ara
articles which, rs far as utility goes, are
just as good as new, but which are de-
faced, faded or shabby-looking merely
because the finish on them has been
or otherwise injured. To throw
these away or pile them in the garnet is
an out-of-pocket sort of economy, and
one which wise housekeepers will not
indulge in, except for good and sufficient
reasons.
1t is a very easy matter to reconstruct,
renovate and refit household belong
ings, and II the few necessary appli.
ances are kept ready at hand, the task
Is neither unpleasant nor tedious, but
rather amusing. A bright-witted and
economical housewife, not lopg since,
invited one of her friends to what she
called a painting party" the friend be-
ing the only guest. An attic o vas
fitted up with a bench, paint pots and
brushes, and here the visitor was in
vited to seat herself as n spectator at
the evolution of a very ~old-fashioned and
almost hopeless-looking bedstcad. It
was a four-poster-a genuine old-timcr.
While 1t was badly scratched and not by
any means in n prcscntable condition,
II had great possibilities.
The old, scratched paint and varnish
were speedily removed with sand-papcr,
which was not a difficult operation, as
all Of the posts were turned. Then the
pieces were carefully busted Off and
coated with white enameled paint. The
operator had tried the enamel such Us is
sold in the stores, and found it answered
admirably; but as it was much too costly
for use in any quantity, she tried a plan
of her own, which answered the pur-
pose very we'll.
Some white lead was mixed with very
fine coach varnish, thinned with turpen-
tine until of the proper consistency. and
this was used in place Of the enamel. 1t
made a heavier body, and worked quite
as easily, but required much more time
to dry. The first coat seemed to sink
into the wood, and filed up all of the
cracks and crevices. When this was
perfectly hard, which required some
days, it was s~and-papcred off with fine
sand paper until perfectly smooth, care
being taken not to rub toodcep, as only
the roughncss and possible specks Oh
bubbles in the paint were TO be removed,
This finished, n coat of enamel, made
quite thin with turpcntine, was applied
A number of articles were worked ove
in this way, some of them receiving
three and others but two coats of tho
paint, the difference in the wood rcgu
lating the amount of paint required
One piece had to have four coats before
it was satisfactory.
There are many persons who would
like to use enamel paints, but, like thu
party mentioned, find them too ex
pensive. When this is the case, the bes
white lead, as it comes from the keg
may be mixed with good varnish unit
smooth and somewhat pasty. Fin
t%urpentine should then be added, to pu
1t in working order. A comfortabl.
thick coat ut first, we'll dried and san,
papered, then one or o thinne
coats, will put in admirable condition
any article of furniture not hopelessl.
battered or broken. After the first Goa
is on, putty should be mixed quite soft
and, with a putty knife, all holes, dee
seams or cracks should be filled an
carefully smoothed off. If this is done
the paint will cover perfectly, and n
trace of the putty will be visit le.--N
Y. Ledger.