Polishing. The beauty of cabinetwork depends upon the care with which it is finished. Some clean off with scraping and rubbing with glass paper. This should be done in all cases; but it is not enough, particularly where the grain is at all soft. A good glass-paper also is essential. (See No. 1933 (To Make Glass Paper or Cloth).) A polish should then be added. But, unless the varnish for cabinet-work be very clear and bright, it will give a dingy shade to all light-colored woods. This should, therefore, be a previous care. Again, some workmen polish with rotten stone, others with putty-powder, and others with common whiting and water; but Tripoli will be found to answer the best.

2980. To Polish Varnish

2980.     To Polish Varnish is certainly a tedious process, and considered by many as a matter of difficulty. Put 2 ounces powdered Tripoli into an earthen pot or basin, with water sufficient to cover it; then, with a piece of fine flannel four times doubled, laid over a piece of cork rubber, proceed to polish the varnish, always wetting it well with the Tripoli and water. It will be known when the process is complete by wiping a part of the work with a sponge, and observing whether there is a fair and even gloss. Clean off with a bit of mutton-suet and fine flour. Be careful not to rub the work too hard, or longer than is necessary to make the face perfectly smooth and even.

2981. The French Method of Polishing

2981.    The French Method of Polishing. With a piece of fine pumice-stone, and water, pass regularly over the work with the grain until the rising of the grain is down; then, with powdered Tripoli and boiled linseed oil, polish the work to a bright face. This will be a very superior polish, but it requires considerable time.

2982. To Polish Brass Ornaments Inlaid in Wood

2982.      To Polish Brass Ornaments Inlaid in Wood. The brass-work must first be filed very even with a smooth file; then, having mixed some very finely powdered Tripoli with linseed oil, polish the work with a rubber made from a piece of old hat or felt, as you would polish varnish, until the desired effect is produced. If the work be ebony, or black rosewood, take some elder-coal, powdered very fine, and apply it dry after you have done with the Tripoli. It will increase the beauty of the polish.

2983. To Clean Soft Mahogany or other Porous "Wood

2983.     To Clean Soft Mahogany or other Porous "Wood. After scraping and sand-papering in the usual manner, take a sponge and well wet the surface, to raise the grain; then, with a piece of fine pumicestone, free from stony particles, and cut the way of the fibres, rub the wood in the direction of the grain, keeping it moist with water. Let the work dry; then wet it again, and the grain will be much smoother, and will not raise so much. Repeat the process, and the surface will become perfectly smooth, and the texture of the wood much hardened. If this does not succeed to satisfaction, the surface may be improved by using the pumice-stone with cold-drawn linseed oil, proceeding in the same manner as with water. This will be found to give a most beautiful as well as a durable face to the work, which may then bo polished or varnished.