The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-16
DRESSING ROOM CEMENT.
Fastening for Jets, Pearls and In
laws

Fastening for Jets, Pearls and In.
lays.
When metal or pearl inlaying be-
comes loose, it may be firmly attached by
Turkish cement, which is used by oriental
jewellers for fixing precious stones in
their setting.
Take of gum mastic ten grains and dis
solve itin two drains of rectified spirits OF
wine; add two ounces of isinglass glue in
proof brandy and ten grains OF the true
gum ammoniac. Dissolve all together,
and keep it closely stoppered in a vial.
Set it in hot water before using. Let the
surfaces to be Joined be free from grease,
and brush them both, quickly pressing
them together, scraping off the super
fiuous cement with a sharp knife, and
leave to dry forty eight hours.
The uses of such cement are almost
endless. II petal has fallen from de-
sign in French jet, there is no need OF
sending it to jeweler for mending. A
drop of cement mixed with ivory black
will fix the fragment in its place.
Black sealing wax or gum shellac mel
ted with ivory black will answer at a
pinch. To fasten pieces OF Jet together,
or tc the metal settings which usually
form their base, heat them gently in a
pair of nippers and drop the melted gum
or wax on them just as the parts are put
together. This is very convenient with
the solid-looking imitation jet, which is
black Bohemian glass lightly fastened on
thin iron back. The designs are some
times too pretty to lose, and they are
sure to come off in few days after wear
ing.
Coral, enamel and precious stones of all
kinds may be mended very safely by u.s.
ing the mastic cement. The pieces must
be held in pair of long nippers, and
heated by gentle degrees until they are
hot enough to melt the cement, when
they are pressed together, and any
roughness polished with a very fine
watches are fastened very firmly by the
mastic.
MENDING SHELL AND AMBER.
Tortoise shell and amber ornaments are
too often considered ruined when acct
dents happen to them. The high price
asked for mendIng them would lead one
to think it difficult process, but it only
requires nice touch, and few materials
show so little trace of breakage.
Both real and imitation shell may be re-
paired by holding the pieces, which must
be free from any grease, in pinchers near
red-hot iron until the edges melt slight
ly. By instantly pressing them together
they viii join, and in moment be cool
and hard, when the seam can be polished
and not show. a coating of gum shellac
may be used for the same purpose; then
the shell need not be heated.
The old way of mending tortoise shell
was to file the pieces to a lap Joint, wet
the JOINT with water, and pass heated
knife blade between them, dipping the
work instantly into water to cool it,
When combs warp they can be brought
to shape by boiling them few minutes
when they can be worked into form under
water just cool enough to bear the hands
in. The teeth should be tied in proper
position and left to cool.
Amber should be wrapped in flannel,
to keep the heat from injuring its polish,
leaving the broken ends out. Touch
them with oil, and hold to flame or coal
until they melt, then quickly press to-
gether and polish. SHIRLEY DARE,