The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1906-10-03
A DANGEROUS PRACTICE.
Burning OF Paint Makes Insurance
Void,

II seems that considerable danger 10
property exists in the practice of
burning of old paint before re-paint-
ing. The question has long been a
subject OF debate in the technical
journals, and now householders and
the newspapers have begun to discuss
1t. Those of us who, with trembling.
have watched the painters blow
fiery blast from their lamps against
our houses, and have looked sadly at
the size IF our painting bill because
OF the time wasted on this prelimin-
airy work, are interested in the in.
vestigation by the Greenfield (Mass.)
Gazette and Courier, which gives con.
siderable space to the reasons for the
practice, questions its necessity and
suggests ways to prevent the risk OF
burning down ones house in order to
get the old paint or 1t says:
There is a good deal OF discussion
among householders as to the desir-
ability, In painting houses, of burning
OF the old paint, a practice that has
grown very common OF late in Green
field and elsewhere. Insurance men
are strongly opposed TO this method.
1t makes void insurance policies for
fires caused In this manner. Several
houses in Greenfield have gotten afire
as the result of this method, and In
some places houses have burned as a
result.
1T Is undoubtedly true that when
house has been painted over and
over again there comes to be an ac-
emulation Of paint in punches. II
new paint is put on top OF these &C
foundations II is almost sure to Bills
ter. To burn It of is the quickest
and cheapest and peThaps the surest
method OF getting rid OF this old
paint"
The Gazette and Courier quotes Ger.
tain old patrons to the effect that ac-
foundations of paint are unnecessary.
These old-timers lay the blame partly
on the painter who fails to brush his
paint In well, partly on the custom OF
painting In damp weather or not allow.
ing sufficient time for drying between
coats, and partly TO the use OF adulter.
ated paints instead of old-fashioned
linseed oil and pure white lead. The
paper says:
Many of the old householders saw
that IL care is taken at all these points
1t is absolutely unnecessary to have
paint burned OF. They advise that
people who have houses painted should
buy their own materials, and to have
them put on by the day, so as to b,
sure to get good lead and oil. Ol
course the burning off of paint great,
Increases the cost of the Job"
The trouble householders everywher,
have with paint is pretty well summed
up by our contemporary, and tn,
causes are about the same everywhere
BY far the most frequent cause OF tn,
necessity for the dangerous practic,
OF burning old paint is the use OF boo
material. The oil should be pure lin
seed and the white lead should be rea
white lead. The latter is more Otter
tempered with than the oil. Earth,
substances, and pulverlzed rock an,
quartz, are frequently used as cheap
eners, to the great detriment OF tn,
paint.
Painters rarely adulterate whit,
lead themselves and they very seldom
use ready prepared paints-the mos
frequent causes of paint trouble. Blu
they do often buy adulterated whit,
lead because the property owner in
sists on a low price and the painte
has to economic somewhere. Tn,
suggestion is therefore good on,
that the property owner investigat,
the subject little, find out the nam,
of some reliable brand OF white lead
and see that the keg is marked will
that brand.
The llnseed oil is more difficult I,
be sure OF, as 1t is usually sold II
bulk when the quantity is small; Blu
reliable makers of linseed oil can b,
learned on inquiry, and, II your deale
is reliable, you will get what you want
Pure white lead and linseed oil ar,
so necessary to good paint that tn,
little trouble necessary TO get then
well repays the house owner in dollar
and cents saved.