Lacquers.

Scientific American 23, 2.6.1866

Lacquers are used upon polished metals and wood, to impart the appearance of gold. As they are wanted of different depths and shades of colors, it is best to keep a concentrated solution of each coloring ingredient ready, so that it may at any time be added to produce any desired tint.


1. Deep Golden-colored Lacquer. - Seed lac, three ounces; turmeric, one ounce; dragon's blood, a quarter of an ounce; alcohol, one pint. Digest for a week, frequently shaking. Decant and filter.


2. Gold-colored Lacquer. - Ground turmeric, one pound; gamboge, an ounce and a half; gum-sandarach, three pounds and a half; shell lac, three-quarters of a pound (all in powder); rectified spirits of wine, two gallons. Dissolve, strain, and add one pint of turpentine varnish.


3. Red-colored Lacquer. - Spanish anatto, three pounds; dragon's blood, one pound; gum-sandarach, three pounds and a quarter; rectified spirits, two gallons; turpentine varnish, one quart. Dissolve and mix as the last.


4. Pale Brass-colored Lacquer. - Gamboge, cut small, one ounce; cape aloes, ditto, three ounces; pale shell lac, one pound; rectified spirits, two gallons. Dissolve and mix as No. 2.

5. Seed lac, dragon's blood, anatto, and gamboge, of each a quarter of a pound; saffron, one ounce; rectified spirits of wine, ten pints. Dissolve and mix as No. 2.

The following recipes make most excellent lacquers: -


1. Gold Lacquer. - Put into a clean four-gallon tin 1 pound ground turmeric, 1 ½ ounces of powdered gamboge, 3½ ounces of powdered gum-sandarach, 3/4 of a pound of shell lac, and 2 gallons of spirits of wine. After being agitated, dissolved, and strained, add one pint of turpentine varnish, well mixed.


2. Red Lacquer. - 2 gallons of spirits of wine, 1 pound of dragon's blood, 3 pounds of Spanish anatto, 4½ pounds of gum-sandarach, 2 pints of turpentine. Made as No. 1 lacquer.


3. Pale Brass Lacquer. - 2 gallons of spirits of wine, 3 ounces of cape aloes, cut small, 1 pound of fine pale shell lac, 1 ounce of gamboge, cut small, no turpentine varnish. Made exactly as before.

But observe that those who make lacquers frequently want some paler, and some darker, and sometimes inclining more to the particular tint of certain of the component ingredients. Therefore, if a fourounce vial of a strong solution of each ingredient be prepared, a lacquer of any tint can be procured at any time.


4. Pale Tin Lacquer. - Stongest alcohol, 4 ounces; powdered turmeric, 2 drachms; hay saffron, 1 scruple; dragon's blood in powder, 2 scruples; red saunders, ½ scruple. Intuse this mixture in the cold for 48 hours, pour off the clear, and strain the rest; then add powdered shell lac, ½ ounce; sandarach, 1 drachm; mastic, 1 drachm; Canada balsam, 1 drachm. Dissolve this in the cold by frequent agitation, laying the bottie on its side, to present a greater surface to the alcohol. When dissolved, add 40 drops of spirits of turpentine.


5. Another Deep Gold Lacquer. - Strongest alcohol, 4 ounces; Spanish anatto, 8 grains; powdered turmeric, 2 drachms; red saunders, 12 grains- Infuse and add shell lac, etc., as to the pale tin lacquer; and when dissolved add 30 drops of spirits of turpentine.

Lacquer should always stand till it is quite fine, before it is used.

- Larkin's "Brass and Iron Founder."