The first coat should cover every portion of the lead surface, be well brushed in, but not allowed to lie heavy at the corners. The remaining coats may be applied reasonably heavy, but kept from lapping over the edges or rounding the sharp corners, and thus destroying the clean sharp lines of the body-maker.
Any defects noticed while filling in should be puttied or stopped, ever bearing in mind that the perfection in finish aimed at is only secured by care at every step taken.
The leather-covered parts generally have three additional coats of filling in.
The time allowed for each coat to dry may be extended as far as convenient, but there is nothing to be gained by allowing weeks to intervene between the coatings. When a coat is hard it is ready for another; and it is far better to have the body filled and set aside than to divide the time between the coatings, and probably be compelled to rub out the body before the last coat is firm. Of course, the time occupied by the coats of filling in to dry varies according to its composition. If much oil be used, it will take a longer time for each coat to dry; but the above composition may be applied one coat every other day.
The first coat may be applied rather thinner than the others, and is improved by being mixed with a little more white-lead. It should also be made more elastic than the succeeding ones, as it will then take a firmer hold on the “dead” lead coat over which it is placed, contributing a portion of its elasticity to that coat, and also cling more firmly to the hard drying coats which follow.
The body having been filled in may be set aside to harden, or if the smith is ready for it this is the best time for him to take it in hand, as any dents or burns that he may cause can now easily be remedied without spoiling the appearance of the vehicle. Later on, this is a matter of great difficulty, if not impossibility. Any bruises should be puttied; any parts which may happen to be burned must have the paint scraped off bare to the wood. Prime the bare spots, and putty and fill them to bring them forward the same as the general surface.
A material has recently been brought into the English market called “permanent wood filling,” which is confidently recommended as effecting a saving in time, expense, and labour, and at the same time more effectually closing the pores of the wood than the ordinary filling now in use. This invention is due to a Polish exile named Piotrowski, who took refuge in America, and there introduced it about 1867, since which date it has found its way into the chief carriage factories in the United States. It is applied to the bare wood, one coat being given to bodies and two coats to carriage parts. This closes the pores, holds the grain immovably in its place, and is so permanent in its effect that neither exposure to dampness, nor atmospheric changes, nor the vibrations to which a carriage is so subject can affect the grain. The satisfaction which this material appears to give to the Americans, who pride themselves on the superiority of their carriage-painting, ought to induce our English coach-builders to inquire after it; for if all that we hear of it be correct, it must assuredly be a valuable acquisition to the paint shop.
In rubbing down use pumice-stone. It is best to begin on top and follow on down, so that the filling water may not run down on to any part that has been finished. Water should not stand for any length of time on the inside of the body; and when the rubbing is completed wash off clean outside and in, and dry with a chamois kept for the purpose.
The body, when dry, receives a staining coat, and is to be carefully sand-papered over, the corners cleaned out, and put on a coat or two coats of dark lead colour, made of tub lead, lampblack, raw oil, and a small quantity of sugar of lead, and reduced to a proper consistency with Japan gold size and turpentine. When dry scratch over the lead colour with fine sand-paper, which will make it appear of a lighter colour; we shall then be able to detect any low or sunk places by reason of the shadow. Putty up any imperfections with putty made of lead and varnish, and when dry face down with lump pumice and water. Follow with fine sand-paper, when the surface will be in a condition to receive the colour coats. Sometimes, after cleaning off, another coat of dark lead colour is laid on.
Analysing the foregoing, we find we have used—