The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
Wood, Stain.—In line with the tendency to increase the decorativeness of kitchen furnishings, oak cabinets are being turned out finished in gray or brown lacquer or stain effects, as described under Breakfast Room Furniture in this book, and Flat Frosting, as described in Book III, Chapter XIII. Additional decoration may consist of vein lining or two-toning. Cheaper cabinets may be finished with combination wood filler, varnish pigment firstcoater and flat varnish, one coat each.
Wicker Furniture
WICKER is the general term applied to furniture which is of the woven rather than solid or veneered smooth type. The strands used in the cheaper grades are "fibre" reed, which means coarse, tough paper twisted spirally to great toughness; the more expensive grades are of natural willow, reed or rattan, treated by steam to soften them for plaiting and braiding. While the finish effect is the same for both, the difference in character of the two grades is such that distinct treatments are necessary for each, alike for stain and enamel.
STAINING FIBRE REED
Owing to the porosity of even the toughest paper it is necessary to apply a stiff preliminary coating which will cause it to hold out the finish. For a natural finish the paper twistings (fibre) are dipped in thin water glue; or the paper strips may first be dyed in aniline water stains, twisted, glue-sized and interwoven on the frame in a two-, three- or four-color pattern. All work is done by machinery up to the finish coats.
If already shaped and assembled uncoated, the stain may be brushed, sprayed or dipped, after which the piece is dipped in the glue size and dried for 24 hours. For a brown mahogany effect, a solution of about five ounces Adam brown aniline dry powder to the gallon of hot water is used; for a light brown, one to three ounces of standard brown aniline; for light gray, one ounce jet nigrosine. The number and shade of possible stain effects is limited only by the proportions of red, brown, black, green, blue and yellow aniline powders used to the gallon of water. Oil stain may also be used, but it does not dry as satisfaetorily nor is it as clear in tone as the water, nor permanent in color.
The piece is now ready for a dip, spray or brush coat of tough, pale, elastic waterproof coach varnish to dry dust free in three or four hours and hard overnight. Any frosting or two-toning (See Book III, Chapter VI) may be done at this point or over the second coat of varnish—two coats are always advisable.
STAINING WILLOW REED
The process is the same as for fibre except that no glue size is required and staining starts after the piece is assembled, a little alcohol being added to the water stain to aid penetration.
