The Dyer's Guide / Being a compendium of the art of dyeing linen, cotton, silk, wool, muslin, dresses, furniture, &c. &c.; with the method of scouring wool, bleaching cotton, &c., and directions for ungumming silk, and for whitening and sulphuring silk and wool; and also an introductory epitome of the leading facts in chemistry, as connected with the art of dyeing

by Thomas Packer

is made thus:—Take of muriatic acid, three pounds; of feathered tin, as described in the process of dyeing wool scarlet, fourteen ounces; to the tin add gradually the muriatic acid; afterwards, with due and great precaution, by degrees, in the course of a day or two, two pounds of sulphuric acid. Care must be taken that the vessel in which this operation is conducted, be of stone ware or of glass. These acids being mixed with the tin, should be left to saturate themselves with it, which they will do in time, without artificial heat; but the dissolution of the tin will be rapidly promoted by a sand heat. This murio-sulphuric solution of tin, thus made, will be perfectly transparent and colourless, and will probably remain so for years, without suffering any precipitation of the metal.

To dye wool BUFF.

This is done with the most economy after scarlet, and, in such case, requiring very little addition (in some cases none) of cochineal. The wool, having an alum preparation, it may be requisite to add some fresh prepared decoction of young fustic or weld. See the next article.

To dye wool PEACH.

This process is the same as the last; that is, after scarlet; but the wool is not to be alumed: in some cases, a little tartar and cochineal is added.

Observe, that the cochineal and tartar being added, the previous preparation must be according to the fulness or faintness of the shade wanted, whether of buff, peach, or flesh, all of which require, essentially, the same process. By such means, a pattern of any shade, compounded of red and yellow, from scarlet to the weakest buff and flesh, may be produced.

To set an indigo vat for worsted, serge, &c.

The vat being five feet high, and two feet in diameter at top, you may use for it from two to six pounds of indigo, according as you set it light or full.

Boil two pounds of potash, two ounces of madder, and a handful of bran, in fifteen gallons of clear soft water, for half an hour.

The indigo must be powdered; after which it must be levigated in a peculiar circular cast-iron mill, having a contrivance for two large round stones, or cast iron balls, which are kept in a perpetual circular motion while the indigo is ground. Water it, and put it into the mill, and as the balls run round, the indigo in the water is reduced to a fine flowery paste. There are mills more convenient than these, but, perhaps, none more simple for a small concern.