Improvements in Fillings for Coating Wood before Painting the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fillings for Coating Wood before Painting
the same.
I, PHILLIP PHILLIPS, of Ballan, in the Colony of Victoria, Coachbuilder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
My invention lies in the combination as ingredients of what are technically
termed " fillings" (i.e. compositions used for coating wood before painting the
same) of tub white lead, ground pumice stone, and varnish with the addition of
powdered asbestos.
I add to the above, pyrites (the commercial article so known) in powdered form,
when a brown filling is to be produced. Pyrites has an excellent effect in giving
durability and hardness without brittleness. If a slate colored filling is desired
then instead of pyrites there may be added whitening with vegetable or lamp
black, whilst with the addition of whitening simply the filling will be white.
According to circumstances such as the color desired, and the nature of the
filling as to whether it is to be a slow drying, medium drying, or quick drying one
so will ingredients be added at will, and the proportion of tub white lead, pumice,
varnish and asbestos be varied, but in each case there is as I have proved by
experiments and comparisons, a virtue attached to the employment in combi-
nation of the several ingredients last enumerated. I have found that not only
do these ingredients in combination dry sufficiently hard to be surfaced to a state
of great smoothness but they also possess longevity in good condition under the
action of the weather which is greater than that of the best other fillings which
I have been able to test. The proportions which I use for an ordinary filling are
8 lbs. more or less of tub white lead to every four ounces more or less of ground
pumice stone and 1 pints of varnish for slow drying, 1 pints of varnish for
medium drying and pint for quick drying adding in the latter case 1 pint of
gold size. To the above I add powdered asbestos to the extent of 1 ounce at
least to every pound of white lead. Asbestos has an excellent effect in
causing the combination to resist heat. 1 treat this filling somewhat differently
from ordinarily. When the stage for rubbing off the guide coat is reached,
I damp the surface with a wet cloth or the like, and then rub off the said coat
with a suitable material as sand paper for wheels, and with lump pumice stone for
flat surfaces.
The wetting is not usual with ordinary fillings on wheels and it is not clear
that wetting of such fillings would be practicable. Wheel fillings have hitherto
been sand papered dry, and the dust produced has been found injurious to the
workmen.
In rubbing down my filling I find a single rubbing is sufficient, which is not the
practice and I believe is not practicable with other fillings. One advantage of my
filling is that it has not an absorbent surface, consequently there is a saving in the
amount of paint required on it subsequently.
In making my filling for coating wheel gears or similar surfaces, I do not alter
the essential characteristics imparted to it by the presence of the several ingredients
first above-named, but I prefer to add some linseed oil boiled if quick drying is
necessary, raw, if medium or slow.

page_text: In the case of filling for stopping brad or screw holes, the amount of tub white
lead must of necessity be reduced, say to half a pound to each 4 ounces of ground
pumice, and proportionately more solid filling (as asbestos) must be used to give
the consistency required. By way of elucidation of the variety which is necessarily
admissible in the proportions of the four ingredients first abovenamed to the whole
filling several formulæ have been given; but it will not be necessary to add here
other formulæ, such as for liquid fillings (produced by adding turpentine) as such
variations are obvious to persons skilled in the art and moreover my invention does
not consist of a collection of formulæ.
Sufficient explanation has been supplied to show that this invention comprises
the use, in combination of the four ingredients first named, with pyrites in some
cases but irrespective of whatever may be added at the will of the person mixing
them, to produce suitability in regard to color, drying properties or consistency.
Although the asbestos is an improvement it should be clearly understood that its
omission will lessen but will not remove the combined good qualities of the
remaining ingredients.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In combination the aforesaid ingredients of fillings viz., tub white lead, ground
pumice stone, varnish and powdered asbestos substantially as set forth.
2. In combination, the aforesaid ingredients of fillings viz., tub white lead, ground
pumice stone, and varnish substantially as set forth.
3. In combination the aforesaid ingredients of fillings viz., pyrites, tub white
lead, ground pumice stone, varnish and powdered asbestos, substantially as set
forth.
4. In combination, the aforesaid ingredients of fillings viz., pyrites, tub white
lead, ground pumice stone, and varnish substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of April 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.