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.
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Canada Varnish
Clear balsam of Canada, 4 ounces; camphene, 8 ounces; warm gently, and shake together till dissolved.
For maps, drawings, &c., they are first sized over with a solution of isinglass, taking care that every part is covered; when dry, the varnish is brushed over it. shake often, and in a few days, by pouring a drop or two of the clear liquid on a glass plate, a varnish of good body, which gives a strong glaze, may be obtained. Or an amber varnish may be made as follows: Take of amber, 3 ounces; benzole, 50 ounces; heat the amber in a closed vessel to a temperature of about 570° Fahr. When it begins to soften and swell, emitting white fumes, then dissolve in the benzole. 2922, Collodion Varnish. The addition of 1 part castor oil to 32 parts collodion, makes a good varnish; it dries rapidly and does not penetrate the paper. This varnish will do graphs. Dissolve 3 to 4 grains amber in 1 very well for coating maps, lists, labels, etc., and it will keep for years. If, after a repeated coating, white spots should appear, moisten them with ether, and they will vanish instantly.