Important: Safety Warning
This page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
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.
Home › Ivory, Alabaster, Etc › To Unite Horn
To Unite Horn
The surfaces and edges of pieces of horn may be united or cemented together by softening by the heat of boiling water, then placing the parts in contact under strong pressure in a vise, and again exposing to the heat of boiling water. 2016. To Dye or Stain Horn Tortoiseshell Color. The horn to be dyed must be first pressed into proper plates, scales, or other flat form, and the following mixture prepared: Take of quicklime 2 parts, and litharge 1 part; temper them together to the consistence of a soft paste, with soap lye.
Put this paste over all the parts of the horn, except such as are proper to be left transpar- By using any of the hardening processes, beautiful imitations of marble may be produced, but they require great care and skill. 2021. To Engrave or Etch on Imitation Alabaster. Cover every part of the surface, except those portions to be etched, with a solution of 1 part white wax in 4 parts oil of turpentine, thickening with a little finely powdered white lead; immerse the cast in water for from 20 to 50 hours, according to the effect desired. Then wash off the covering solution with oil of turpentine, and brush over carefully the etched parts with powdered gypsum (plaster of Paris). The etching is produced by the solvent action of the water on the gypsum.