The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Coloring Finishing And Painting Wood

235. Formulas for Paint and Varnish Removers.

	Formula No. 1.
	1 qt. denatured alcohol (high proof—188° or 190°), 1 qt. benzol (90 per cent quality), 1/4lb. paraffin-wax.

The wax should be melted first, and poured into the benzol after taking both of these auay from the fire. Then, while stirring, pour the benzol into the alcohol.

	Formula No. 2.
	1/2 gal. benzol (90 per cent grade), 1 qt. acetone 1 qt. wood alcohol, 1/2 lb. paraffin-wax.
	Formula No. 3.
	1 qt. strong ammonia (26° or 2S°), 1 pt. turpentine. Mix the ingredients together by shaking thoroly in a bottle. This formula is useful for the removal of paint rather than varnish,because the irritating ammonia i-hould not be used indoors, and it tends to darken the wood somewhat. The discoloration can be removed to some extent by sandpapering the surface with No. 1/2 sandpaper.

Many prepared varnish-removers are for sale on the market, and these preparations are generally more satisfactory for use in schools than are those which are homemade.

236. Cleaning Varnish-Brushes. —The various solvents used as thinners in varnish can be used in most cases as cleaners for varnish-brushes. In school shops, turpentine is often employed as a cleaning fluid. Varnish-brushes that have been neglected until gum partly hardens about the ferrule can be cleaned more satisfactorily by the use of amyl acetate, or butyl acetate, which is cheaper tho not quite so good a solvent.

Many liquid varnish-removers are also satisfactory for use as brush-cleaners. Varnish-removers containing strong alkalies damage the bristles of the brushes, and must be avoided or used with great caution. Varnish-removers should be cleaned out of brushes by a final washing in turpentine, especially if the brush is to be put back into varnish in a wet condition.