Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-12

should be bought only where varnish and other wood finishing materials are sold. thus insuring good article free from dust and grit.
 The art of finishing fine furniture, pianos, etc, after they are made, as may be inferred from the description and instructions given regarding varnishes and how to use them, is not only con- plicated, but requires years of expe- rience and practice, and is far in ad- vance of the work of the varnisher or painter who finishes the interior of our houses.
 Yet with these facts before him, the beginner may with care and patience in following these simple directions produce a passably fair finish on ar ticles made by himself, and bearing on which we wish to emphasize the fol- lowing points:
 l. Water stain will dry in one hour; oil stain requires A to 36 hours.
 2. Filler must be rubbed of perfectly clean from the surface and from all angles and corners. It must then have from 4 to 4s hours to harden and dry.
 3. Each coat of varnish or of shellac must be dry and hard before another is applied.
 f. Each successive coat (except the lasD must be sandpapered smooth when dry.
 5. Each coat of shellac should have about 24 hours to dry and harden.
 6. Each coat of copal (furniture) var nish must have from two to four days to dry and harden.
 [. Shellac varnish does not resist moisture, hence be sure to use oil, not water, with the pumice stone.
 S. Copal; being an oil varnish, resists moisture. therefore may be rubbed with pumice and water to produce an even surface.
 g. Pumice stone will cut much faster when used with water than when used with oil.
 10. When copal is rubbed with pumice and water the finished surface, although even and smooth, will have no gloss.
 II. If copal is rubbed with pumice and oil Gnstead of water), beautiful dead finish is produced, which many persons prefer to bright, glossy polish.
 12 If a bright polish is desired on any kind of varnish. it must be polished with rotten stone and oil, after being cut to an even surface with pumice stone.
 l3. Never use a block or holder when sandpapering shellac or varnish, of any kind Use the hand only
 i4 Use block when rubbing down fiat surfaces with pumice and oil, or water. only long enough 10 cut of the larger projections of the varnish. Then use the hand alone to hold the rubber.
 Is. Never sandpaper the last coat use pumice stone. as directed.
 Note.-All articles finished with copal yarnish can be cleaned and renewed in appearance. after long use. in no way so well as 10 wash with a soft cloth and tepid water. to which a little mild, fine soap has been added No injury will result. provided they are at once wiped dry with soft cloth. To improve the polish after the above, go over ali sur faces with a small piece of chamois skin and a few drops of olive oil. and finally polish with soft, dry ehamois until all oil has been removed. espe- cially from the angles and corners.
 Much of the foregoing instruction ap- plies to the finishing of wood on which a fine. smooth surface and polish are desired. A very common but rough finish may be produced by first stain- ing (uhen desirsd). filling and then applying two or three coats of good var nish of any kind. and leaving the last coat in its natural gIoss. unrubbed Such a finish may be seen on the in- tsrioT hard woodwork of many houses, and also on the cheap grades of cab inet furniture.