XVI. The Chinese varnish.

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.

XVI. The Chinese varnish.

1. Take pulverised and lifted sealing wax, two ounces. Put it in a matrass with four ounces of turpentine oil. Give a gentle fire, that all may melt. If the wax be red, you need add nothing but the oil; If black, some lamp-black is requisite to be added still. And, with this first composition, you lay on the first coat.

2. Next to this have aloes and karabe, of each two ounces. Dissolve this in a varnished pipkin, along with twelve ounces of lintseed oil, till all is well incorporated. There will fall a ground to the bottom, over which will swim a very ne and transparent liquor. Of this you are to make your second coat of varnish, laying it over the other after it is dry.