Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1889
I. EDWARD OATES, of 44, Rue d'Enghien, Paris, in the French Republic, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved composition of matter, by means of which
coats of varnish may be rapidly and efficiently removed, either singly, or successively,
from wood, metal and other surfaces.
In the execution of my Invention, I proceed by preference as follows, in taking a
example a varnish remover of the most concentrated type which is likely to be used
in practice.
Into an appropriate vessel, provided with a close fitting cover, I introduce say
20 pounds weight of caustic soda lye at about 40° Baumé (= Sp. Gr. 1, 3570),
1 pound of Potatoe Starch, and 20 pints of water. The mixture being thoroughly
stirred up, the vessel is closed, spontaneous heating sets in, and at the end of about
twelve hours, the mass is converted into a jelly with which I then incorporate 57 pints
of water, and 14 pounds of Potatoe Starch, to form a total quantity of 100 pounds of
the final product. This product containing about twenty per cent. of the soda lye,
constitutes, as above stated, one of the most usually concentrated types of my varnish
remover which may be reduced to 15., 10., 5 %, or other desired percentage of the
caustic alkali by proportionate additions of water, it being understood that its energy
may be increased if requisite by the inverse process.
It is evident that the caustic soda and potatoe starch of the above typical formula
may be replaced by equivalents of other alkalis and amylaceous substances and that
the process of manufacture may be varied according to circumstances.
Dated this 16th day of July 1888.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Associate Agent.

page_text: An Improved Varnish Removing Compound.
I, EDWARD OATES, of 44, Rue d'Enghien, Paris, in the French Republic, 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 :-
This Invention relates to an improved composition of matter, by means of which
coats of varnish may be rapidly and efficiently removed, either singly, or successively,
from wood, metal and other surfaces.
In the execution of my Invention, I proceed by preference as follows, in taking as
example a varnish remover of the most concentrated type which is likely to he used
in practice.
I introduce say
20 pounds weight of caustic soda lye at about 40° Baumé (= Sp. Gr. 1, 3570),
1 pound of Potato Starch, and 20 pints of water. The mixture being thoroughly
stirred up, the vessel is closed, spontaneous heating sets in, and at the end of about
twelve hours, the mass is converted into a jelly with which I then incorporate 57 pints
of water, and 14 pounds of Potato Starch, to form a total quantity of 100 pounds of
the final product. This product containing about twenty per cent. of the soda lye,
constitutes, as above stated, one of the most usually concentrated types of my varnish
reinover which may be reduced to 15., 10., 5 %, or other desired percentage of the
caustic alkali by proportionate additions of water, it being understood that its energy
may be increased if requisite by the inverse process.
Into an appropriate vessel, provided with a close fitting cover,
It is evident that the caustic soda and potato starch of the above typical formula
may be replaced by equivalents of other alkalis and amylaceous substances, and that
the process of manufacture may be varied according to circumstances.
In no case however, should the temperature in the digesting vessel be raised
beyond that resulting from the Spontaneous heating of the ingredients above specified,
any increase thereof being liable to reduce the efficiency of the product as a varnish
remover, and even to destroy it altogether if carried up to a maximum limit of
200° F.
The compound prepared as above, should be applied to the varnished surface in a
more or less diluted state according to the effect to be produced.
Thus, a solution containing five per cent. of Soda, suffices for the removal of a first
coat of ordinary Copal. A ten per cent. solution will remove the first and second
coat together.
A fifteen per cent. Solution will remove the first, second and third coat, and a twenty
per cent. solution four and even a greater number of successive coats.
Notwithstanding the apparent fluidity of the Compound, it has little or no ten-
dency to run on the varnished surfaces, on which it acts rather as a solid vehicle,
while penetrating rapidly to a predetermined depth, dependent on its degree of
dilution.

page_text: In practice, this degree of dilution can be so gauged as to permit of either partial
or complete removal of a given coat of varnish, without affecting to any injurious
extent the coat immediately following, thus obviating the necessity for the total
destruction of several successive coats which generally results from the application of
all other varnish removers at present known.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. An improved Composition of matter, for the removal of varnish from wood,
metal and other surfaces, obtained by the digestion in a closed vessel of Potato Starch
and a Solution of Caustic Soda, the said digestion being effected by the Spontaneous
heating of the ingredients or, exceptionally, by application of corresponding artificial
heat, which must in no case be allowed to exceed 200° F., substantially as and for
the purposes herein set forth.
2. The substitution in said composition for Caustic Soda and Potato Starch, of
any suitable alkaline and amylaceous equivalents thereof, in manner and for the
purpose herein set forth.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Associate Agent.