Valuable Decorative Process.

Manufacturer and builder 8, 1882

An English firm has brought into use a method for staining white woods in various pattern, in imitation of inlaid woods, which is simple and effective. It might profitably be adopted by American manufacturers of pine or "painted" furniture, which could be finished in its natural shade and decorated in colors by this method with great effect. In fact, there is a fine opening in the use of color decoration for pine furniture, and the manufacturer with enterprise enough to seize the opportunity will reap a good harvest. The method is as follows:

The surface to be doorstep is made as smooth as possible. It is then covered with one or two coats of size, prepared by adding glue site of just sufficient strength to forma jelly, a little egg albumen and a small quantity of alum. When this is dry and thoroughly hard, the design must be traced or pounced upon it. The outline, and those lines separating the different parts of the design and all other parts that are to remain the natural color of the wood, are then carefully painted in with Brunswick black or Canada balsam, laying on the black with a good body. This should remain until it gets thoroughly hard, which will be in about six or seven hours. The surface is then washed with a sponge and lukewarm water, until all the size is renewed from the exposed parts, the pattern drawn in the Brunswick black, which is impervious to water, remaining intact, and serving to prevent the stains running together when applied. This washing must thoroughly remove all the size preparation, and after the wood has been allowed to dry it will be ready for the application of the colored stains. If the painting has been properly done the design will appear as a clear black outline, the white spaces in which are to be filled in with various color, after which the black outline is to he removed, as will be explained. The black lines should be fully a sixteenth of an inch wide, and wider if required. Having decided upon the woods to be imitated and the colors to be used, the stains, which may be either spirit stains or water stains, or both, may be laid in. The lightest stains must be put in first, and need not be confined to the exact outline of that particular part, but it is as well that they should be. The stain may be freely used, and laid as level as it will allow, but a little shadiness is not at all objectionable. The next darkest stains may now be proceeded with and so on for as many stains as are desired. When all are dry and hard, the black outline may be washed clean off the wood with a brush and turpentine, which may be used freely until the whole of the Brunswick black is removed. The various colored stains will then appear inclosed in a white outline, which, if properly done, will be sharp and clean and clear as an inlay of the real wood, What grain the white wood has will be more or less seen through the stains as they may be light or dark. The work may then be French polished or varnished.