Encyclopedia of Practical Receipts and Processes

How to silver a mirror, brew ginger beer, kill moths, make fireworks, tan a hide, bronze iron, cure a ham and clean a straw hat: William B. Dick's numbered encyclopedia answered the questions a nineteenth-century household actually had.

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To Soften Hard Putty

Break the putty in lumps of the size of a hen's egg, add a small portion of linseed oil, and water sufficient to cover the putty; boil this in an iron vessel for about 10 minutes, and stir it when hot. The oil will mix with the putty.

Then pour the water off, and it will be like fresh made.

KALSOMINE AND WHITEWASH. 2791. To Clean Old Paint Cans, Buckets, etc. This can be thoroughly done with hot, strong lye.

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