2809. Red Wash for Bricks

2809. Red Wash for Bricks. To remove the green that gathers on bricks, pour over the bricks boiling water in which any vegetables (not greasy) have been boiled. Do this for a few days successively, and the green will disappear. For the red wash melt 1 ounce of glue in a gallon of water; while hot, put in a piece of alum the size of an egg, i pound Venetian red, and 1 pound Spanish brown. Try a little on the bncks, let it dry, and if too light add more red and brown; if too dark, put in more water. This receipt was contributed by a person who has used it for 20 years with perfect success.

2810. Wash

2810. Wash. into another vessel, add hot water, and stir until it has the appearance of milk of lime. Add the sizing, stir well, and apply in the ordinary way, while still warm. Except on very dark and smoky walls and ceilings, a single coat is sufficient. It is nearly equal in brilliancy to zinc-white (a far more expensive article), and is very highly recommended by those who have used it. Paris white is sulphate of baryta, and may be found at any drug or paint store.

2811. To Prepare a Wall for Papering

2811.    To Prepare a Wall for Papering. A new unwhitewashed wall will absorb the paste so rapidly that, before* drying, there will be left too little body of paste on the surface to hold the paper. A coating of good glue size, made by dissolving 1/2 pound of glue in a gallon of water (see No. 2815 (To Make Glue Sizing)), or a coating of good paste, put on and allowed to dry before the paper is hung, will provide for this difficulty. If the wall be whitewashed, it should be scratched with a stiff brush, to remove every particle of loose lime from the surface; after which it should be thoroughly swept down with a broom, and coated with the glue size or thin paste. (See No. 2808 (To Paper Whitewashed Walls).)

2812. Utensils for Paper Hanging

2812.     Utensils for Paper Hanging. A long table of thin boards cleated together and placed on wooden horses, such as are used by carpenters, a pair of sharp shears -with long blades, if possible - a whitewash-brush, a pail for paste, and a yard of cotton cloth, are the implements required. The table or board platform should be level on its upper surface to facilitate the distribution of the paste. The latter should be free from lumps, and should be laid on as evenly as possible. It should be made of good sweet rye or wheat flour, beaten smooth in cold water before boiling, and should not be allowed to boil more than a minute or two, but should be raised to the boiling point slowly, being continually stirred till it is taken from the fire. (See No. 2272 (Paper Hangers' Paste).)

2813. To Prepare Paper for Hanging

2813.     To Prepare Paper for Hanging. Inexpert hands often find difficulty in hanging the lengths of paper so as to make the patterns match. No general directions 259 can be given for this, but a little study at the outset will often save cutting to waste, and other difficulties. In this matter, as in others, it is wise to "first be sure you are right, then go ahead." As soon as the proper way to cut the paper is decided upon, a whole roll, or more, may be cut at once, and the pieces laid, printed side downwards, upon the table, weights being placed upon the ends to prevent curling. The paste should then be applied to the back of the uppermost piece, as expeditiously as possible, as the longer the time employed in this part of the operation, the more tender will the paper get, and the more difficult it will be to hang it properly. About one-quarter of the length should be turned up at the bottom of the strip before hanging; as, without this, the bottom is apt to stick to the wall before the upper part of the strip can be adjusted. If the paper is very thick, both ends must be folded over, so as to meet in the middle. Besides being more convenient for handling, this allows the paper to soften, without the paste getting dry.