LV. A varnish to lay on paper.LVI. How to cast figures in moulds.LVIII. Another varnish.LVIII. L'Albe Mulot's varnish.LIX. A varnish to lay over plaister-works, or figures.

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.

LV. A varnish to lay on paper.

Begin by laying on your paper one first coat of very clear and thin size. This being dry, melt three parts of oil of spike and one of rosin together: and, when come to the conficence of a varnish, you lay one second, and light coat of this over the first made with size. - This varnish is very fine, when very smoothly, and equally, laid on.


LVI. How to cast figures in moulds.

Take one pound of Paris-plaster, and an equal quantity of bricks, pounded into an impalpable powder; join to this one ounce of alumen plumeum, and one of ammoniac salt. Dilute all together, gradually, in clear water, without absorbing it, as you are to make a paste of it; and make your moulds with if.


LVIII. Another varnish.

Take mastich's and sandarac's, equal parts, of each two ounces. Pound them into a fine powder. Have three ounces of lintseed-oil, and as much of spirit of wine, in which, being mixed, you put your powders. Set this, in a well-stopped matrass, in a balneo mariæ to boil and concoct together for one hour: and this varnish is done.


LVIII. L'Albe Mulot's varnish.

Take of spike oil, one ounce; pulverised sandarac half an ounce. Put all in a bottle, and set it in the sun till perfectly dissolved. This composition is particularly fit to varnish gold or silver, in shell, which has been laid on, with a hair pencil.


LIX. A varnish to lay over plaister-works, or figures.

Take fine white Alicante soap; rasp it fine, and put it in a well glazed pipkin. Dissolve that soap, in the pipkin, with your finger and a little water, added gradually, and little at a time, till it comes thick and milky. Cover this, for fear dust should come to it; and let it rest so for seven or eight days. Take, next, a soft and short hairy brush; dip it in this soapy preparation, and warn the plaister figure all over with it, then set it a-drying. When dry, rub it gently with a piece of cloth, placing yourself between it and the light, that you may perceive better the places which take the polish; when done, thus, every where, your statue will appear as white, shiny, and beautiful, as alabaster.