Varnish Brushes when not in use should be suspended in either varnish or oil, the brush not resting on the bristles. No brushes should on any account be kept in turpentine.
Stippling Brushes should be well cleaned and dried after use, the bristle being carefully kept from crushing; a box in which they can be slid, allowing the bristle to hang downwards is recommended.
Should a Brush become quite hard with Paint it should be soaked for twenty-four hours in raw linseed oil, after which time in hot turpentine.
Some Useful Recipes.
A Recipe for Terebine.
—Take 2lbs. of ground litharge, 2lbs. of red lead, 1lb. of sulphate of manganese, 1⁄2lb. of sugar of lead. Mix these to a paste with light coach japan, put the paste into a gallon jar and add half a gallon of pure turpentine. Let this stand for three days, stirring occasionally, then pour off the resultant liquid which forms first-class terebine. You can afterwards pour in another half gallon of turps, well stir and pour off as before. This can be done a third time when the chemicals will have become exhausted.
SPECIAL PAINTS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES.
Iron Cement.
—A cement suitable for filling up defects in cast iron is made by mixing one part of bone black, one part of powdered gum arabic, one part iron dust or very fine iron filings, and two parts of plaster of Paris. This powder is made up into a stiff body with water, but only sufficient for immediate use should be made, as it sets very rapidly. In time it becomes as hard as iron.