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Furniture Finishing

Amalgamater, as the word implies, draws together the surface of the finish and combines all the materials into one resilient, yet firm, hard finish. The gum used in this product is imported from the East Indies and is used to a large extent for perfume, hence the delightful odor in opening a container of genuine amalgamater. No other gum has the same quality of rubber-like consistency and ability to congeal with all varnish and lacquer finishes. It will smooth over a finish, at the same time moving the undercoat without the slightest indication of sticking to the finish unless the rubber is deliberately stopped on the finish. Do not think that all the products bearing this name are the same, for some are intended for brush use and not to be used for frenching. A full understanding of each particular amalgamater should be had before using it, and comparison is the only rule for deciding as to which product to use. If you wish a product for frenching, be sure to secure one recommended for that purpose.

French varnish and amalgamater are the only materials necessary for French polishing, except some light oil, like furniture polish, for use on the rubber to prevent sticking. In the olden days the use of linseed oil on the rubber was the thing, but today a light oil (some use lemon oil) is preferred. Linseed oil will congeal with a shellac product and delay drying. The other mineral or vegetable oils come to the surface and allow quick drying of the surface underneath.

WOOD-TURNERS' CEMENT

This product is known under the following names, which are synonymous: stick shellac, finishers' wax, stick filler, etc., and even sealing wax, formerly used to seal tin cans. To be of good quality this product should contain at least fifty per cent shellac, but few of those on the market contain this percentage. Most of them are made principally of different resin gums with addition of shellac in varying proportions. For coloring, both aniline and pigment colors are used. For the lighter sticks, in oak. white or ivory and different greens, reds, etc., pigment is used, but generally in the best cements, oil aniline is used for coloring matter. These are termed transparent sticks, for the reason that a light, thin application will result in the grain of the wood showing through.

For convenience these sticks are made about six or eight inches long and about one-half inch thick and wide. They are always applied by melting on a hot cement knife (burning-in knife) and either spreading or running into the crevice or indentation, and then smoothing down with the knife while hot.

Alcohol torches or lamps of various sizes can be used, but for the kit it is well to have one not larger than four ounces. Obviously it would be better to have a metal lamp, preferably brass, to prevent breakage. The knife is held over the lamp and the cement is applied to the upper side of the knife until melted.