IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OF WOOD TO FACILITATE THE VARNISHING OR POLISHING OF THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE PREPARATION OF WOOD TO FACILITATE
THE VARNISHING OR POLISHING OF THE SAME." A communication from abroad
by Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE PREPARA-
TION OF WOOD TO FACILITATE THE VARNISHING OR POLISHING OF THE SAME'
A communication from abroad by Nathaniel Wheeler, of Bridgeport, Connecticut,
United States of America.
Heretofore various materials have been used to fill the grain in processes for
finishing woods, such as pulverised marl, clay, flour, chalk, starch, and different
gums, but all of them are found to have objectional features which my new process
is designed to obviate.
In some of the substances employed the particles when powdered are round or .
spherical, and without angles, and consequently do not readily adhere to each other
and unite with the pores of the wood, and others are wanting in durability and
subject to injurious atmospheric action.
I am aware that various forms of infusorial silicates have been used in mixtures
for filling the grain of wood, but these are all very powerful absorbents of liquids,
and carry the moisture by the quality of their capillarity into the wood itself, which
moisture has to be removed by evaporation before the varnish can be applied to the
surface of the wood, and which opens the pores when said moisture is evaporated,
and prevents its being solidified or producing a hard or smooth surface ready for the
varnish.
I use finely powdered flint, quartz, or feldspar, which are non-absorbents of
moisture or liquid of any kind, and which fill the pores of the wood by the par-
ticles packing together similar to a concrete, and which are combined with any
fluid substance that will permit of their being rubbed into the surface, such as oil
or varnish or other similar fluids, the finely powdered flint or quartz being so mixed

page_text: to about the consistency of jelly, and colored, if desired, to match the wood to be
filled and polished. I apply the mixture with a pad of cloth or leather to the
wood, and rub it into the pores of the same until they are full; then by rubbing
the surplus material will be caused to adhere to the pad or cloth until the whole
surface of the wood is cleaned off, leaving the pores of the wood entirely packed, so
that when dry it presents a smooth, hard, and glassy surface of great durability,
upon which one coat of varnish will produce all the finish desired for fine furniture.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim, the employment of finely powdered flint, quartz, or feldspar mixed
with oil or other fluent substance, as above described and for the purpose
specified.
In witness whereof, 1, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. KOB³, LAKE. (LS.)