Important: Safety Warning
This page describes practices involving highly flammable materials in ways that create a serious risk of fire or explosion.
In addition, 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.
To Prevent Rust
Rub the article with a mixture of lime and oil, or a mixture of equal parts of carbolic acid and olive oil, or with plumbago. Anti-rust Varnish for Steel. The rusting of steel and iron tools and instruments is very perfectly prevented by coating them with a varnish made by dissolving 1 part while wax in 15 parts benzine, and applying with a brush. The very thin layer of wax forms a perfect covering for bright tools and when desired is very easily removed.
Browning or Bronzing for Steel. Aqua fortis and sweet spirits niter, each half an ounce, sulphate copper 2 ounces, water 30 ounces, tincture muriate of iron 1 ounce. Mix.
To Protect Steel from Rust. Immerse in a solution of carbonate of potash for a few minutes and it will not rust for years, not even when exposed to damp atmosphere.