The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-07-31

WHAT is the Best Paint? This is the
question the thrifty house owner is con-
stantly asking. Paint is used to protect
from decay incident to exposure to the
elements, as well as to beautify and re-
new. The old dingy house so uninviting.
almost repulsive, can, by the application
Of a new surface of paint, be changed
into an attraction and delight. Paint is
not very expensive when you get the best,
but the labor Of applying it is costly.
What, then, is the best paint for wear2
What will best preserve from decay and
remain unaffected by exposure?
Paint is or should be composed of pure
linseed oil mixed with certain dry pow
ders of mineral substances called pig
NETS, which experience has shown are
best adapted to this purpose. Paint is
applied in liquid state, and after ex-
posture to the air becomes hard, or, in
common parlance, is said to dry. If the
dry powder or pigment was applied alone
it would soon rub off. If it was mixed
with water the water would dry out and
the powder would come off, to the disgust
of everyone.
MWhat is wanted is binder which will
not only harden and dry, but which will
embrace the powder or pigment so it can
not be removed. This binding material
must be insoluble and practically unaf-
fected by water, else the paint would be
washed off the building with the first
rain. Pure linseed oil is the best ma
terial known. 1t fulfills the requisite con-
ditions of binder, or vehicle for paint,
though poppy seed oil is sometimes used
with advantage on inside work. Linsced
Oil is made by expression from the ma
ture seed of the fax plant, which also
furnishes our finest linens. When it dries
it does not dissipate into the air like
water, alcohol, OF even coal OIL 1t does
not evaporate at all, but absorbs oxygen
from the air, thereby forming a tough,
leathery substance which envelops the
pigment and holds it to the surface, and
II dried under proper conditions it forms
an elastic waterproof coating, adapting
itself to the change of temperature.
Pure linseed oil alone should be used,
no coal oil should be mixed with it, as is
often done to cheaper, for coal oil has no
binding properties, and eventually evap-
crates, leaving the pigment with nothing
to hold it to the surface. No animal or
other vegetable oils should be used, for
they do not dry, and the surface will not
become hard and durable. No rosin oil, a
frequent adulterant, should be used, for
this makes the paint dry and brittle, thus
easily chipping or cracking off.
What shall be combined with pure lin
seed oil to make the Best Paint9 The ex-
perience of many centuries points to pure
white lead. This substance has the fac
ulty of mixing most readily with linseed
oil. 1t assists the oil to dry by combin-
ing with it, the oil is rendered water
proof, and the resulting dry film for a
long time remains elastic, so that it
adapts itself readily to expansion and
contraction of the surface, without ten
dency to scale off. Unless there is mois-
ture present, either on the surface or alb
sorbed in the wood, when the paint is APP
piled, pure white lead paint well rubbed
in will stay where it is put. If the sur
face is wet the oil is repealed from it, and
a good job cannot be expected. If there
is water or sap in the lumber the heat OF
the sun, or of the building, will draw or
drive it to the surface, and blistering will
follow. When these blisters are pierced
the water will often run out See, then,
that the surface is all right before you
paint. If very old and dry the oil may be
absorbed before it can set or dry, and the
pigment left as a dry powder, so that in
the first coat plenty of oil should be used,
not only to act as a binder, but to allow
for possible absorption.
There are additional reasons why pure
white lead is the best pigment. Among
others, it has greater opacity than any
other substance, therefore hiding the sur
face better; consequently fewer coats are