LIII. A varnish water-proof.

Valuable Secrets concerning Arts and Trades:
or Approved Directions, from the best Artists, for the Various Methods...
Printed by Thomas Hubbard,
Norwich, 1795Chap. III. Secrets for the composition of Varnishes, &c.


1. Take lintseed-oll, the purest you can find; put it in a well-glazed pipkin, over red hot charcoals, in a chaffingdish. With that oil add, while a-warming, about the fourth part of its weight of rosin. Make all dissolve together, and boil gently, left it mould run over the pot. At first, the oil will turn all into a scum; but, continuing to let it boil, that scum will insensibly waste itself, and disappear at last. Keep up the fire till, taking a little of that oil, with a stick, you see it draw to a thread like as varnish does. Then, take it off from the fire, But if, trying it thus, it prove too thin, add some more rosin to it, and continue to boil it.

2. When it is come as it ought to be, varnish what ever you want with it, and set it in the sun to dry, or before the fire, for it cannot dry without the asssistance of either of these.

N. B. This composition of varnish has this particular property, viz. that, if you lay it on wooden wares, hot water itself cannot hurt it, nor have the least power on it. You may, therefor, make a very extensive use of it. But you must take care to chuse the finest and the most perfect rosin; and to boil it well, for a long time.

Quære. Would not such a varnish be extremely useful, to preserve what is much exposed to the injuries of the weather, in gardens and elsewhere; such as sashes, statues, frames, hot-houses? etc.