2984. To Clean and Finish Mahogany Work

2984.    To Clean and Finish Mahogany Work. Scrape and sand-paper the work as smooth as possible; go over every part with a brush dipped in furniture oil, and let it remain all night; have ready the powder of the finest red t>rick, which tie up in a cotton stocking, and sift equally over the work the next morning, and, with a leaden or iron weight in a piece of carpet, rub it well the way of the grain, backward and forward, till it has a good gloss. If not sufficient, or if the grain appears at all rough, repeat the process. Be careful not to put too much of the brick-dust, as it should not be rubbed dry, but rather as a paste upon the cloth. "When the surface is perfectly smooth, clean it off with a rubber of carpet and fine mahogany saw-dust. This process will give a good gloss, and make a surface that will improve by wear.

2985. To Clean and Polish Old Furniture

2985.    To Clean and Polish Old Furniture. Take a quart of stale beer or vinegar, put a handful of common salt and a table-spoonful of muriatic acid into it, and boil it for 15 minutes; it may be kept in a bottle, and warmed when wanted for use. Having previously washed the furniture with soft hot water, to get the dirt off, wash it carefully with the above mixture; then polish, according to the directions, with any of the foregoing polishes.

2986. Mixture for Cleaning Furniture

2986.     Mixture for Cleaning Furniture. Cold-drawn linseed oil, 1 quart; spirit of wine, and vinegar, 1/2 pint each; butter (terchloride) of antimony, 2 ounces; spirit of turpentine, 1/2 pint. This mixture requires to be well shaken before it is used. A little of it is then to be poured upon a rubber, which must be well applied to the surface of the furniture ; several applications will be necessary for new furniture, or for such as had previously been French polished or rubbed with bees' wax.

2987. Furniture Polish

2987.     Furniture Polish. Dissolve 4 ounces best shellac in 2 pints 95 per cent, alcohol; add to this 2 pints linseed oil, and 1 pint spirits of turpentine; when mixed, add 4 ounces sulphuric ether, and 4 ounces ammonia water; mix thoroughly. Shake when used, and apply with a sponge lightly. This is an excellent article, especially where the varnish has become old and tarnished.

2988. Polishing Paste

2988.    Polishing Paste. Take 3 ounces white wax, 1/2 ounce Castile soap, 1 gill turpentine. Shave the wax and soap very fine and put the wax to the turpentine; let it stand 24 hours; then boil the soap in 1 gill water, and add to the wax and turpentine. This has been highly recommended.

2989. Furniture Polish

2989.    Furniture Polish. Bees' wax, 1/2 pound; alkanet root, 1/4 ounce; melt together in a pipkin until the former is well colored. Then add linseed oil, and spirits of turpentine, of each 1/2 gill; strain through a piece of coarse muslin.

2990. Furniture Paste

2990.    Furniture Paste. Turpentine, 1 pint; alkanet root, 1/2 ounce; digest until sufficiently colored, then add bees' wax, scraped small, 4 ounces; put the vessel into hot water and stir until dissolved. If wanted pale, the alkanet may be omitted.

2991. Composition for Soft or Light Mahogany

2991.    Composition for Soft or Light Mahogany. Boil together cold-drawn linseed oil, and as much alkanet root as it will cover, and to every pint of oil add 1 ounce of the best rose pink. "When all the color is extracted, strain it off, and to every pint add 1/2 gill spirits of turpentine. This will be a very superior composition for soft and light mahogany.

2992. To Wax Furniture

2992.    To Wax Furniture. In waxing, it is of great importance to make the coating as thin as possible, in order that the veins of the wood may be distinctly seen. The following preparation is the best for performing this operation: Put 2 ounces white and yellow wax over a moderate fire, in a very clean vessel, and, when it is quite melted, add 4 ounces best spirits of turpentine. Stir the whole until it is entirely cool, and you will have a pomade fit for waxing furniture, which must be rubbed over it according to the usual method. The oil soon penetrates the pores of the wood, brings out the color of it, causes the wax to adhere better, and produces a lustre equal to that of varnish, without being subject to any of its inconveniences. The polish may be renewed at any time by rubbing it with a piece of fine cork.