This section is from the book "Practical Hints For Furniture Men", by John Phin. Also available from Amazon: Hints And Practical Information For Cabinet-Makers, Upholsterers, And Furniture Men.
A cement which has been found useful for this purpose may be prepared by mixing ten parts of bisulphate of carbon, one of oil of turpentine, and so much gutta-percha as is necessary to produce a thick fluidity. The leather must be first freed from all grease, which can be done by simply laying it in a cloth and pressing this with a hot iron. The parts to be joined, after being brought into contact with the cement, require to be kept pressed together until they are quite dry.
Equal parts of pitch and gutta-percha melted together. This compound is insoluble in water.
Beat the whites of eggs well to a froth, let them settle, add soft grated or sliced cheese and quicklime; beat them well together, and apply a little to the broken edges. This cement will endure both the fire and water.
Pound half an ounce of resin and four ounces of gum-mastic; put them into a pipkin on the fire to melt; stir them well. To this add about halt an ounce of finely-powdered glass, and half an ounce of quicklime; stir the whole well together. When nearly cold, form it into sticks, on a stone, in the same manner as sticks of sealing-wax are formed. When it is desired to cement any article, heat the broken edges sufficiently to melt the cement, which rub thinly on both edges; bring them accurately together; press them close, and let them cool. If this be carefully done, the work will sooner break in any other part than where the cement has been applied.
Steep one ounce of isinglass in half a pint of spirits of wine for twenty-four hours; then let it dissolve over a slow fire, (always keeping it covered, or the spirit will evaporate); now well bruise six cloves of garlic in a mortar, put them in a linen cloth, and squeeze the juice into the isinglass; mix all well together, and keep it for use. It is excellent to join glass ornaments, etc.
Take 1 gill of plaster of Pari-, 1 gill of litharge, 1 gill of fine white sand, ½ gill of finely-powdered resin. Mix well, and bottle and cork it until wanted for use, then mix it with boiled oil and dryers until as thick as putty. Mix the cement only in small quantities as it dries quickly.
Mix boiled linseed oil, litharge, red and white lead together, using white lead in the largest proportion, spread on flannel, and place on the joints.
A solution of glue, 8 oz. to 1 oz. of Venice turpentine; boil together, agitating all the time, until the mixture becomes as complete as possible, the joints to be cemented to be kept together for forty-eight hours if required.
Take ½ a gill of gold size, two gills of red lead, 1½ gill of litharge, and sufficient silver-6and to make it into a thick paste for use. This mixture sets in about two days.
 
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