Evening star., 1937-10-12

work on a small surface until you learn
to control the gluey mass of softened
paint.
/ YE Is very powerful corrosive. It
has great advantage in that one
can at Is cents will do the same job
that may take gallon or remover
but whether or not 1t does the Job
successfully depends on the wood and
the discretion of the user. 1t must
be used with great care and may
never be used on fine, hard woods, as
it will raise the grain on mahogany or
veneered wood.
Remeber lye will burn hands, cloth
ing, shoes, the bristles off brushes and
almost everything else, including the
piece you are cleaning if you do not
use the utmost care. Prepare yourself
with old clothes, gloves, goggles and a
long handled cotton mop which may
be purchased at the "five-and-ten." !"
Have large earthenware pan with a
handle, and box of good sharp sand.
Also bottle OF vinegar and some
cotton in case you get splashed.
A half can of lye to a gallon Of
water is strong solution. 1t is the
one thing that will start paint from
the deep turning Of old chairs and
tables. Thoroughly soak all parts by
dipping the cotton mop in the lye
solution. In few minutes the paint
begins to start and turns to a gelatin
Gus mass. If you need an abrasive, dip
the mop into the sand and scrub the
difficult part. II it iss necessary to
work over the piece some time, dis
continue the lye bath and scrub the
piece well with plenty of clear water
and scrub brush. Never leave the
job with lye standing on the wood.
1t will burn deep brown scar. After
scrubbing with clean water you may
continue the lye bath until the paint
has disappeared. I can only say
beyond this-use great care-do not
use too strong sOlution-and expert
ment first on something you do not
value too highly.
X \ 4
CAVOGRAN is a white powder which
may be purchased at the paint
store, for about 20 cents pound. Its
action when mixed with water Is
similar to lye, but more gentle on
wood surface and not so hard on hands
and clothing. It enters deep into the
pores of the wood, removing old paint
and stains. 1t is much slower in
action but also much safer for the
beginner. 1t is also very inexpensive.
Savogran is mixed with hot water
half pound to gallon of water-but
it must be cooled before using. It must
never be used on mahogany or We
neered wood and will discolor cherry.
Other than this the directions for
using Savogran are the same as for
lye with the accent on the constant
and complete washing and scrubbing
with clear water. This Is a strong
bleach and will leave any piece lighter
in color.
To remove deep stains such as
ink-apply pure ammonia or a satu-
rated solution of oxalic acid. Deep
dents in table top or other surface
may be brought up by laying four or
five layers of wet cloth over the dent
and applying a hot flatiron. Do this
carefully that you may not overdo it
q bump is as bad as dent.
After all this-you are ready for
smoothing. For this you may use
sandpaper or steel wool. For very
rough work with sandpaper you might
use No. but in most cases you will
use No. 40 to No. $40. Always rub
with the grain Of the wood. Steel wool
comes In pound packages 1T the paint
store. Use No. 90 for most things with
occasionally No. for rough work. Use
1t by the handful with your hand
protected by leather glove.
II new wood was used to restore
part of the piece and has not become
sufficiently darkened with the paint
removal make mild stain by mixing
oil paint in turpentine and diluting
with linseed oil. Paint this on the
light part and then rub it OF with 4
cloth. Continue this process until
you get the right color-being sure to
err on the light side.
X
ITO SECURE a good hard surface
and close the pores on refinished
wood use white or brown shellac, de-
pending on whether you wish the
finished piece to be light or dark in
color. This should be diluted with
equal parts Of denatured alcohol. Pine
or maple will take several coats Of this
shellac and may then be waxed.
Mahogany or other hard woods to
which you wish to give . deep satin
dni4h-should be rubbed down after