Artificial Ebony

Treat sea-weed for 2 hours in dilute sulphuric acid. Of the charcoal thus obtained take 16 parts; dry, and grind it. Add Liquid glue 10 parts, gutta-percha 5, india-rub 2-1/2, the last t wo dissolved in naphtha. Then add coal-tar 10, pulverized sulphur 5, pulverized alum 2, powdered resin 5, and heat the mixture to 3000Fahr. This when hard will take a polish equal to ebony, and is the same in color and hardness.

How To Make Artificial Veneers

Soak the wood for 24 hours, and boil for \ hour in a 10 per cent solution of caustic soda. Then wash out the alkali, when the wood will be elastic, leather-like, and ready to absorb the desired color. After immersion in the color-bath, dry between sheets of paper under sufficient pressure to preserve the shape.

Steaming Veneers

Blocks of wood intended for veneers may be steamed in a solution of borax and ammonia. They will then become soft and easy to cut, and, beside, will retain their flexibility for a long time.

Preservation Of Wooden Labels

Thoroughly soak the pieces of wood in a strong solution of sulphate of iron; then lay them, after they are dry, in lime-water. This causes the formation of sulphate of lime, a very insoluble salt, in the wood. The rapid destruction of the labels by the weather is thus prevented. Bast, mats, twine, and other substances used in tying or covering up trees and plants, when treated in the same manner are similarly preserved. Wooden labels, thus treated, have been constantly exposed to the weather during two years without being affected thereby.

Preserving Wooden Taps For Casks

The articles should be plunged in paraffine, heated to about 248° Fahr. until no air-bubbles rise to the surface of the melted material. They are then allowed to cool, and the paraffine is removed from the surface, when nearly congealed, by thorough rubbing. Taps thus treated will never split or become impregnated with the liquid, and may be used in casks containing alcoholic liquors.

Brown Stain For Wood

Paint the wood over with a solution made by boiling 1 pint catechu (cutch or gambier) with 30 pints water and a little soda. Dry, and then paint over with a solution of bichromate of potash 1 pint, water 30 pints. By a little dif ference in the mode of treatment, and by varying the strength of the solutions, various shades of color may be given to these materials. The colors will be permanent, and will tend to preserve the wood.

Preserving Wood

This process is valuable for railway-sleepers. Steam the timber, and inject a solution of silicate of soda for 8 hours. Then soak the wood for the same period in lime-water. (Dr. Feuchtvanger's process.)