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.
Home › Spirit Varnishes › Varnish to Imitate the Chinese
Varnish to Imitate the Chinese
Put 4 ounces powdered gum-lac, with a piece of camphor about the size of a hazelnut, into a strong bottle, with 1 pound good spirits of wine. Shake the bottle from time to time, and set it over some hot embers to mix for 24 hours, if it be in winter; in summer time it may be exposed to the sun. Pass the whole through a fine cloth, and throw away what remains upon it. Let it settle for 24 hours separate gently the clear part in the upper part of the bottle, and put into another phial; the remains will serve for the first layers or coatings.