Page:Cyclopedia of Painting-Armstrong, George D (1908).djvu/431

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423
USEFUL INFORMATION

Preventing Glue from Cracking. The addition of a little chloride of calcium to glue will prevent its cracking when exposed to considerable heat.

Putty for Polished Wood. Take a small quantity of white beeswax, melt it down, and, while liquid, mix with whiting, as it gets thick, keep adding boiled oil until you have it as you wish it, when using it, sheet the wood over solid, let stand until the next day, when you can remove the surplus by using No. 12 sandpaper. It is easier and cheaper than the shellac, and can be levelled sooner, leaving nothing but the pores or grain of the wood filled, which is better than having the wood all stained up with the shellac.

Removing Iron Rust. Iron rust can be removed by salt mixed with lemon juice being rubbed on, or either place the article in a bowl containing kerosene oil or wrap it in a soft cloth well saturated with the oil, allow it to remain so for two days, and then scour the rusty spots with brick-dust. If very badly rusted, use salt melted with hot sulphuric acid, after scouring well, rinse in boiling water, and polish clean with soft flannel and a little sweet oil.

Removing Spots from Ceilings. A very simple remedy for removing rain spots or such caused by water soaking through ceilings, has been employed with good results. Take unslaked white lime, dilute with alcohol, and paint the spots with it. When the spots are dry, which ensues quickly, as the alcohol evaporates, and the lime forms a sort of insulating layer, painting can be done with size color, and the spots will not show through again.

Removing Oil Stains from Marble Statuary. Make a paste with fullers' earth and hot water, cover the spots with it, let it dry on, and the next day scour it off with soap. Another recipe is to take 14 pound soft soap, 14 pound powdered whiting, 1 ounce soda, piece of blue the size of a walnut. Boil all together for a quarter of an hour, and rub over the marble while hot. Leave it on for