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.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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To Make Paper Waterproof
Melt in 10 pints hot water, 30 ounces glue, gelatine or size, and 3 ounces gum-arabic. In another 30 pints hot water, melt 20 ounces soap and 4 pounds alum; mix both liquids together in one pot. This constitutes composition No. 1. In another pot heat 1/2 gallon benzole and 1 gallon paraffine, and melt in it 24 ounces resin; let it boil until it attains a moderate degree of consistency. To these materials, resin, oil, and copal or mastic varnish may, in some cases, be added. This is composition No. 2. First dip the article to be waterproof into the composition No. 1 in a heated state, and then dry it. Next apply composition No. 2, in a cooled state, with a brush, or in any other convenient manner.