Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
In addition, this page directs the use of hazardous substances — such as benzine, gasoline, lye, or strong acids — for household tasks. These materials are highly flammable, corrosive, or poisonous, and the practices described have caused fires, burns, and poisonings.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Gold Polishing Powder
Mix together 4.3 parts of alumina, 17.4 of chalk, 4.3 of carbonate of lead, 1.7 of carbonate of magnesia, and 1.7 of rouge. Polishing Paste for Brass. Dissolve 15 parts of oxalic acid in 120 parts of boiling water and add 500 parts of pumice powder, 7 of oil of turpentine, 60 of soft soap, and 65 of fat oil.
The polishing agent is usually mixed with oil, alcohol or water to prevent scattering, and is then applied by the polishing tool in the shape of cloth and leather buffs, polishing files, etc. Either the work or the tool should revolve with great velocity in order to secure good results. Many articles are brought to a high degree of polish by the use of the burnisher, after subjecting them to the action of the ordinary polishing agents. See Burnisher, also Buff.