The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
PRINTED VENEER
"With the perfection of artificial mechanical graining it has become possible to print almost any veneer marking, mahogany, walnut or oak, on a cheaper wood. For instance, a poplar chest top may be stained or filled a walnut color and over it a butt walnut impression inked on which blends so perfectly with the poplar markings as to defy detection by any but an expert. The process is the same as that described for air drying in Book V, Chapter IX, Block Graining, and of course is best suited to large production.
Banding, Striping and Vein Lining
BANDING, as the name would indicate, consists in running a swathe or band of color around the vertical edge of table top or chair seat, or along the front edges of a pier bookcase or hanging book shelf. In such a case its width is naturally delimited and to that extent requires less skill than the running of a narrow free hand stripe. It may also be applied around the legs of a chair, stool, table, couch or cabinet, free hand if the leg be of regular proportions, or set if confined to a turning or a series of turnings.
Banding may have for its object the effect of a stripe or that of two-toning according to whether it is narrow or wide. It may be applied to painted furniture or to walnut or satinwood furniture ; in the latter case it is apt to be a soft shade of green or blue. A camelhair brush of necessary width and a steady hand are the chief requirements of a successful job; the same materials are required as for striping. It belongs to the simpler designs of furniture and is undoubtedly the least costly of all decorative effects to obtain.
STRIPING AND LINING
Striping is one of the most effective means of giving decorative interest to an otherwise plainly finished surface, and while mosl often used over paint or enamel, is occasionally applied to natural wood finishes as well. It is not an art to be acquired overnight, yet even an amateur can turn out very passable work with patience, perseverance and practice. The principle lies in holding the handle of the brush with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand, so placing the last two fingers that the straight-edge or edge of the wood near which the line of color is being painted, will act as an undeviating guide. The brush is pulled along by the strength of the upper arm, the even stripe of color appearing magically under the dragging bristles.
