Brilliant Amber Spirit Varnish

Fused amber 4 oz., sandarach 4 oz., mastic 4 oz., methylated spirit a. quart. Expose to the heat of a sand-bath, with occasional agitation, till dissolved. [The amber is fused in a close copper vessel, having a funnel-shaped projection, which passes through the bottom of the furnace by which the vessel is heated.]

Amber Varnish for Photographs

Dissolve 3 to 4 grs. of amber in 1 oz. of chloroform.

1. Colourless Varnish for Photographs. Dissolve shell-lac by heat in 8 parts of water and one part of pearlash. Precipitate by chlorine, and dissolve in rectified spirit. - Dr. Hake.

2. 1 oz. white lac, dissolved in 10 oz. of warm methylated spirits of wine. Let it settle for several weeks, then carefully decant for use.

Chinese Varnish, Mastic 2 oz., sandarach 2 oz., rectitled spirit a pint. Close the matrass with bladder, with a pin-hole for the escape of vapour; heat to boiling in a sand or water-bath, and when dissolved, strain through linen.

Crystal Varnish

Picked mastic 4 oz., methylated spirit a pint, animal charcoal 1 oz. Digest and filter.

French Polish and Lacquers are varieties of spirit varnishes. The former has already been noticed. A few formulAe for the latter are here added.

Pale or Gold Lacquers

To a pint of methylated spirit add as much gamboge as will give it a bright yellow colour, then add 12 oz. of seed-lac in fine powder, and set it in a sand-bath till dissolved. Or a tincture of annotto (1 part to 8 of spirit) may be added to give the desired colour.

Lark Lacquer

Clear seed-lac 1 lb., dragon's blood 1 oz.; pulverize together, and add them to a pint and a half of methylated spirit. Set in a warm place till dissolved.

Lacquer for Brass Work

Turmeric 1 oz., saffron 1/4 oz., Spanish annotto 1/4 oz., methylated spirit a pint. Digest at a gentle heat for several days; strain through coarse linen, put the tincture into a bottle, and add 3 oz. of good seed-lac coarsely powdered. Place in a moderate heat, and shake frequently till dissolved; if wanted of a redder shade, increase the quantity of annotto, or add a little dragon's blood. [Some makers prepare a strong tincture of the various colouring ingredients, and add them to the lacquer to produce the required shade.]

Oil of turpentine, and other essential oils, are used as solvents, forming essence varnishes, as the following:

Mastic Varnish

Clean mastic 5 oz., rectified oil of turpentine (camphine) a quart. Digest in a warm place, shaking frequently till the solution is complete, then strain.

Picture Varnish

Ohio turpentine 2 1/2 oz., mastic 12 oz., camphor 1/2 dr., pounded glass 4 oz., rectified oil of turpentine 3 pints. For oil paintings.

Canada Varnish

Clear balsam of Canada 4 oz., camphine 8 oz.; warm gently, and shake together till dissolved. For maps, drawings, etc.; they are first sized over with a solution of isinglass, taking care that every part is covered; when dry, the varnish is brushed over it.

Tingry's Essence Varnish

Mastic in powder 12 oz., pure turpentine 1 1/2 oz., camphor 1/2 oz., powdered glass 5 oz., rectified oil of turpentine a quart.