Cherry Stain

Mix together, by stirring, 1 quart of spirits of turpentine, 1 pint of varnish, and 1 lb. of dry burnt sienna; apply with a brush, and after it has been on about five minutes wipe it off with rags. This stain takes about 12 hours to dry.

Another Cherry Stain

Take 1 quart alcohol, 2 ozs. of dragon's-blood; pulverize the latter along with 1/4 oz. of alkanet root; mix, and let stand in a warm place a couple of days. Shake frequently in the meantime. Apply with a sponge or brush. Two or three coats may be required. This makes a fine stain.

Red Stain For Common Work

Archil will produce a very good stain of itself when used cold, but if after one or two coats have been applied and suffered to get almost dry, it is brushed over with a hot solution of pearlash in water, it will improve the color.

Mahogany Stain

To darken mahogany, apply a weak solution of bichromate of potash in water. Apply successive coats, allowing each to dry, until the required shade is secured.

Surface Stains

The following are for the most part used to apply to woods of inferior quality, to make them resemble choicer woods. The colors are all to be mixed with very thin glue size, laid on warm with a soft woollen material, and the wood wiped dry after application. All the colors used in staining should be well pulverized, and before use the liquid should be strained.

Imitation Oak Stain

Equal parts burnt umber and brown ochre.

Imitation Mahogany Stain

One part Venetian red and two parts yellow lead.

Imitation Rosewood Stain

Venetian red, darkened with lampblack to required shade.

Imitation Walnut Stain

Burnt umber and yellow ochre, mixed in proportions to give desired shade.

Fine Crimson Stain

Boil 1 lb. of good Brazil dust in 3 quarts of water for an hour; strain it, and add 1/2 oz. of cochineal; boil it again gently for half an hour, and it will be fit for use.

If you will have it more of a scarlet tint, boil half an ounce of saffron in a quart of water for an hour, and pass over the work previous to the red stain.

Purple Stain

To 1 lb. of good chip logwood put 3 quarts of water; boil it well for an hour; then add 4 ozs. of pearlash, and 2 ozs. of indigo pounded.

Fine Blue Stain

Into 1 lb. of oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid) in a clean glass phial, put 4 ozs. of indigo, and proceed as above directed in dyeing purple.

Fine Green Stain

To 2 pints of the strongest vine add 4 ozs. of the best verdigris pounded fine, 1/2 oz. of sap green, and 1/2 oz. of indigo.

Distilled vinegar, or verjuice, improves the color.

Yellow Stain

Dissolve 1/4 lb. tumeric in 1 pint alcohol; let it stand until the tumeric settles to the bottom.

Another

A small piece of aloes added to the varnish will have all the effect of a bright yellow stain.

How To Brighten Stains

Any of the stains named (except the surface stains) will be rendered much more brilliant by an application of the following: 1 oz. nitric acid, 1/2 teaspoonful muriatic acid, 1/4 oz. grain tin, 2 ozs. rain water. Mix in a bottle, at least two days before using, and keep the bottle well corked.