1968. Papyrine

1968.     Papyrine. Dip white unsized paper for 1/2 a minute in strong sulphuric acid, and afterwards in water containing a little ammonia. When dried it has the toughness and appearance of parchment.

1969. To Color Parchment

1969.    To Color Parchment. The only color given to parchment is green. Boil 8 parts cream of tartar and 30 parts crystallized verdigris, in 500 parts water; when this solution is cold, pour into it 4 parts nitric acid. Moisten the parchment with a brush, and then apply the above liquid evenly over its surface. The necessary surface finish is given with white of eggs, or mucilage of gum-arabic.

1970. Composition for Drawing Crayons

1970. Composition for Drawing Crayons. Take 6 parts shellac, 4 parts spirit of wine, 2 parts turpentine, 12 parts of coloring powder, such as Prussian blue, orpi-ment, white lead, vermilion, etc., and 12 parts clay. The clay must be thoroughly washed, passed through a hair sieve and dried; it is then well incorporated by trituration with the shellac (previously dissolved in the spirits of wine), the turpentine and the coloring pigment. The doughy mass is pressed in proper moulds so as to acquire the desired shape, and then dried by stove heat.

1971. Charcoal Crayons

1971.      Charcoal Crayons. Saw the finest-grained, softest, and blackest pieces of charcoal, into slips of the size required, put them into a pipkin of melted wax, and allow them to macerate over a slow fire for half an hour, then take them out and lay them on blotting-paper to dry. The above process may also be employed for red and black chalk. Drawings made with these crayons are very permanent, and if warmed slightly on the wrong side, the lines will adhere and become as durable as ink. These crayons may also be made by simply shaping the charcoal with a knife. Willow charcoal should be used for this purpose.

1972. To Clean Engravings

1972.    To Clean Engravings. Secure the engraving with drawing pins on a smooth board, and cover it thinly with common salt, finely powdered; pour and squeeze lemon juice upon this salt, so as to dissolve a considerable portion of it. Now elevate one end of the board, that it may form an angle of about 45° with the horizon. Pour lastly on the engraving boiling water from a tea-kettle, until the salt and lemon juice be all washed off; the engraving will then appear perfectly clean, and free from stains. It must be dried gradually, on the same board, or on some smooth surface. (See Nos. 411 (To take Grease from Paper), etc..)

1973. To Clean Printed Paper and Picture Prints

1973.    To Clean Printed Paper and Picture Prints. Septimus Piesse gives the following receipt for that purpose: Fasten the paper to a board with button drawing pins, then wash it with water in which is dissolved an ounce of carbonate of ammonia to every pint of water. This do with care, employing a camel' s- hair brush for the purpose. Then rinse the paper well with plenty of fresh water. When dry, repeat the same process for the reverse side of the paper. Now wet the paper with water made sour • with white vinegar. Finally wet the paper with water containing a little bleaching powder, and again rinse with clean water; then dry it by exposure to air and sunshine. It will become white, excepting where printed. To stiffen the print give it a coat of parchment size. Most valuable prints have been thus restored.