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.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Common Drab
Work for 15 through this, and wring out; then work it 10 minutes in a decoction of 1/2 a pound sumach minutes in the lead solution; wring out, wash, in a decoction of a pound sumach; minutes in the lead solution; wring out, wash, lift, and add 1 ounce copperas in solution, and dry. and work 15 minutes more; wash out in a tub of cold water, then work 15 minutes in a decoction of 4 ounces fustic, 2 ounces limawood, and 1 ounce logwood; lift, and add 1 ounce alum in solution; work 10 minutes, then wring out and dry.
A great variety of different tints can be produced by varying the proportion of the limawood, fustic, and logwood; and lighter or darker shades by diminishing or increasing the quantities of sumach and copperas.