An Improved Polish

To a pint of spirits of wine add, in fine powder, one ounce seedlac, two drachms of gum guaiacum, two drachms of dragon's-blood, and two drachms of gum mastic; expose them, in a vessel stopped close, to a moderate heat for three hours, until you find the gums dissolved; strain the whole into a bottle for use, with a quarter of a gill of the best linseed oil, to be shaken up well with it.

This polish is more particularly intended for dark-coloured woods - for it is apt to give a tinge to light ones, as satin-wood, or air-wood, etc, - owing to the admixture of the dragon's-blood, which gives it a red appearance.

Water-Proof Polish

Take a pint of spirits of wine, two ounces of gum benzoin, a quarter of an ounce of gum Sandarac, and a quarter of an ounce of gum anime; these must be put into a stopped bottle, and placed either in a sand-bath or in hot water till dissolved; then strain the mixture, and, after adding about a quarter of a gill of the best clear poppy oil, shake it well up, and put it by for use.

Prepared Spirits

This preparation is useful for finishing after any of the foregoing receipts, as it adds to the lustre and durability, as well as removes every defect, of the other polishes; and it gives the surface a most brilliant appearance.

Half a pint of the very best, rectified spirits of wine, two drachms of shellac, and two drachms of gum benzoin. Put these ingredients into a bottle, and keep it in a warm place till the gum is all dissolved, shaking it frequently; when cold, add two teaspoonfuls of the best clear white poppy oil; shake them well together, and it is fit for use.

This preparation is used in the same mariner as the foregoing polishes; but, in order to remove all dull places, you may increase the pressure in rubbing.

Polish For Turners' Work

Dissolve 1 ounce of sand-arach in ½ pint of spirits of wine; shave 1 ounce of beeswax, and dissolve it in a sufficient quantity of spirits of turpentine to make it into a paste, add the former mixture to it by degrees; then, with a woolen cloth, apply it to the work while it is in motion in the lathe, and polish it with a soft linen rag; it will appear as if highly varnished.