Soft woods may be turned so smooth in the lathe as to require no other polishing than that produced by a few line turnings or shavings of the same wood applied while revolving in the lathe. Mahogany, walnut, and some other woods may be polished by the use of a composition made by dissolving by heat so much beeswax in spirit of turpentine that the mixture, when cold, shall be of about the thickness of honey. Or instead, dissolve 1 oz. of san-darach in 1/2 pint of methylated spirit, and mix the solution gradually with l oz. of beeswax in sufflcient turps to make it into a paste. Apply with a woollen cloth whilst the work is still in motion, and polish with a soft linen rag or chamois leather. The work thus treated should have a highly varnished appearance. Hard woods may be readily turned very smooth, and line glasspaper will suffice to give them a very good surface; a little linseed oil may then be rubbed on, and a portion of the turnings of the wood to be polished may then be held against the article while it revolves rapidly.

By this means a fine gloss will be imparted.