STANDING-PRESS.
For inferior bindings, where the end-papers are left plain, the last two leaves being merely pasted together, the ends will only require pasting, and attaching by placing the volume between boards, and screwing firmly in the standing-press, immediately after which it must be taken out and the boards opened, so as to make the joints free. Almost every class of work except velvet and Turkey morocco requires to be submitted to the action of the standing-press after the end-papers have been pasted down, and then allowed to become perfectly dry by leaving the boards open. Our illustration is taken from a standing-press manufactured by W. O. Hickok, Harrisburg, Pa.
In all the departments, but especially in finishing, cleanliness is of the utmost importance. It matters not how graceful may be the design, how perfectly the tools may be worked; all may be spoiled by a volume having a dirty appearance. Therefore, have every thing clean about you,—cups, sponges, and brushes. Let your size, pastewash, and glaire, be clean; your oil-cotton the same. Do not lay on the gold until the preparation is dry. After the working of your tools, be particular in cleaning off the gold, so that no portions or specks remain that should not, for they will have the appearance of dirt. In calf-work, especially, be careful of grease, or of any thing that will soil the leather. In summer-time great care must be taken to protect your work from the flies, particularly after your backs are worked off. The little pests will eat the glaire off in places, and give the book an unsightly appearance.
VARNISH,
AS USED IN BOOKBINDING.
The first, by the celebrated Tingry, is made in the following manner:—
Put into a vessel six ounces of mastic, in drops, three ounces of sandarac finely powdered, four ounces of coarsely-broken glass, separated from the dust by a sieve, and thirty-two ounces of spirits of wine, of about forty degrees. Place the vessel upon straw in another filled with cold water; put it on the fire and let it boil, stirring the substances together with a stick, to keep the resins from uniting. When the whole appears well mixed, put in three ounces of turpentine, and boil for another half-hour, when the whole must be taken off and stirred till the varnish and the water in which it is placed cools. Next day, filter it through a fine cotton, by which means it will acquire the greatest degree of limpidity, and well cork up in a bottle.
The other recipe is given by Mons. F. Mairet, of Châtillon sur Seine, and may be prepared similar to the above. The ingredients are, three pints of spirits of wine, of thirty-six to forty degrees, eight ounces of sandarac, two ounces of mastic in drops, eight ounces of shell-lac, and two ounces of Venice turpentine.