Part 287

«Cracked Leather.»—The badly cracked and fissured carriage surface greets the painter on every hand. The following is the recipe for filling up and facing over such a surface: Finest pumice stone, 6 parts; lampblack (in bulk), 1 part; common roughstuff filler, 3 parts. Mix to stiff paste in good coach japan, 5 parts; hard drying rubbing varnish, 1 part. Thin to a brushing consistency with turpentine, and apply 1 coat per day. Put on 2 coats of this filler and then 2 coats of ordinary roughstuff. Rub with lump pumice stone and water. This process does not equal burning off in getting permanently rid of the cracks, but when the price of painting forbids burning off, it serves as an effective substitute. Upon a job that is well cared for, and not subjected to too exacting service, this filler will secrete the cracks and fissures for from 3 to 5 months.

«DRESSINGS FOR LEATHER:»

«For Carriage Tops.»—I.—Here is an inexpensive and quickly prepared dressing for carriage tops or the like: Take 2 parts of common glue; soak and liquefy it over a fire. Three parts of castile soap are then dissolved over a moderate heat. Of water, 120 parts are added to dissolve the soap and glue, after which an intimate mixture of the ingredients is effected. Then 4 parts of spirit varnish are added; next, 2 parts of wheat starch, previously mixed in water, are thrown in. Lampblack in a sufficient quantity to give the mixture a good coloring power, without killing the gloss, is now added. This preparation may be used as above prepared, or it may be placed over a gentle fire and the liquid ingredients slowly evaporated. The evaporated mass is then liquefied with beer as shop needs demand.

II.—Shabby dark leather will look like new if rubbed over with either linseed oil or the well-beaten white of an egg mixed with a little black ink. Polish with soft dusters until quite dry and glossy.

«Polishes.»—I.—Dissolve sticklac, 25 {449} parts; shellac, 20 parts; and gum benzoin, 4 parts, all finely powdered, in a rolling cask containing 100 parts of 96 per cent alcohol; perfume with 1 part of oil of rosemary. Upon letting stand for several days, filter the solution, whereupon a good glossy polish for leather, etc., will be obtained.

II.—Dissolve 2 pounds of borax in 4 gallons of water and add 5 pounds of shellac to the boiling liquid in portions, till all is dissolved. Then boil half an hour, and finally stir in 5 pounds of sugar, 2 1⁠/⁠2 pounds of glycerine, and 1 1⁠/⁠2 pounds of soluble nigrosin. When cold add 4 pounds of 95 per cent methylated spirit.

III.—Ox blood, fresh, clean 1,000 parts Commercial glycerine 200 parts Oil of turpentine 300 parts Pine oil (rosin oil) 5,000 parts Ox gall 200 parts Formalin 15 parts

Mix in the order named, stirring in each ingredient. When mixed strain through linen.

«Kid Leather Dressings.»—Creams for greasing fine varieties of leather, such as kid, patent leather, etc., are produced as follows, according to tried recipes:

White Cream.—

Lard 75 parts Glycerine, technical 25 parts Mirbane oil, ad libitum.

Black Cream.—

Lard 100 parts Yellow vaseline 20 parts Glycerine, technical 10 parts Castor oil, technical 10 parts

Dye black with lampblack and perfume with oil of mirbane.

Colored Cream.—

Lard 100 parts Castor oil 20 parts Yellow wax 25 parts White vaseline 30 parts

Dye with any desired dyestuff, e. g., red with anchusine, green with chlorophyl. In summer it is well to add some wax to the first and second prescriptions.

These are for either Morocco or kid:

I.—Shellac 2 parts Benzoin 2 parts Yellow wax 5 parts Soap liniment 7 parts Alcohol 600 parts

Digest until solution is effected, then allow the liquid to stand in a cool place for 12 hours and strain. Apply with a bit of sponge or soft rag; spread thinly and evenly over the surface, without rubbing much. If dirty, the leather should first be washed with a little soft soap and warm water, wiped well, and allowed to dry thoroughly before the dressing is put on.

II.—Oil of turpentine 8 ounces Suet 2 pounds Soft soap 8 ounces Water 16 ounces Lampblack 4 ounces

«Patent Leather Dressings.»—

I.—Wax 22 parts Olive oil 60 parts Oil turpentine, best 20 parts Lavender oil 10 parts

With gentle heat, melt the wax in the oil, and as soon as melted remove from the fire. Add the turpentine oil, incorporate, and when nearly cold, add and incorporate the lavender oil.

II.—Wax 22 parts Olive oil 60 parts Oil of turpentine 30 parts

With gentle heat, melt the wax in the olive oil, and as soon as melted remove from the fire. When nearly cold stir in the turpentine.

«Red Russia Leather Varnish.»—

Shellac 1.20 parts Dammar rosin, powdered 0.15 parts Turpentine, Venice 0.60 parts