The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-23
To Stain Floors.

The knowledge Of the use of stains
and varnishes and how to polish and
clean furniture is invaluable to ar
economical housekeeper, who can cas-
lily, with the help IF an intelligent
maid, keep her house clean and bright
and freshen it up when need be, with
out calling in ihe aid Of an expensive
workman. Formerly stains were con-
fined to the colors nearly resembling
natural woods, but of late all color,
are used-greens, blues, reds and yell
low-whlch partake in 10 sense of the
nature Of paint, but are stains pure
and simple, showing the grain Of the
wood.
The most fashionable stain at pres
ent for cottage furniture is green, not
d sage green, but a go d, old fashion
ed, regular green, which, when rubbed
well into the pores of the wood and
then polished is really beautiful. The
two transparent colors, Prussian blue
and raw sienna, make, when mixed
together, an excellent green, or if a
brighter tint is desired, gamboge and
Prussian blue. A very little of the
latter goes great way, as it is alto
gether the most powerful color know
and complely overcomes any other
pigment If mixed in equal proportions
In staining, 1t should be borne in mind
that it is not paint, but stain, and that
very little should be used, a pound
bping sufficient to stain whole set Of
furniture.
To get g. good color the wood must
be light Oak, yellow or white pine.
maple, any of these are suitable, and
the more grained the better, The moire
Effect of bird's-eye maple. the heavy
markings of oak and the picturesque
knot so often in yellow pine all coming
out particularly we'll through the trans
lucent color.
The best way iv apply stain and
bring out the grain Of the wood is to
put it on qnite thick and then rub /,
off with linen or cotton rag, and it is
absolutely necessary that the wood
should be in its natural CONDITION
without paint or varnish By sending
specia. order to the manufacturer it
is easy TO get sets without either; but
if it is an old piece that is to be reno
waited it must b. thoroughly scraped.
After staining, a coat Of hard OIL tiu-
iuh may be applied as hard oil filler,
and then, after It is dry, it should be
rubbed all over with prepared bees
wax that comes iu cans for floors, and
then rubbed with Il flannel cloth until
it is quite shiny and bright. After
the Wax is rubbed on it should be al
lowed to harden before polishing it
Prussian blue alone makes very
pretty peacock blue stain, raw sienna
a yellow or orange, according 10 the
amount Of color used, crimson lake
lovely red, burnt sienna, an aim st
exact imitati n of new mahogany. All
these are what are called transparent
colors, and are, therefore, especially
adapted for stains; but even opaque
colors, if put ON thin enough to show
the grain of the WOOD, produce somr-
times very pretty effects. White on
cerrain woods has q milky, opalque
coloriug that is very harmonious
monious with delicate chintzes. Light
blue, canary yellow, apple green and
pink all may be us-d on woodwork a.
SANS if applied by the way that house
painters call "priming" ng"-that is, one
coat of paint put on 50 thin that 1t
shows the markings Of the wood be-
meath. Georgia pine look particular
ly well when treBted in this way.