The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Furniture Finishing
11. Lacquer.—Excellent over filler on open-pored woods and is waterproof, quick drying and tight sealing, but used alone lacks body and filling qualities and possesses an odor that lingers in closed interiors. Lacquer may be tinted in all wood shades with spirit soluble anilines and at least two coats should be applied, the first lacquer or lacquer sealer, the second flat lacquer for its agreeable lustre.
OPEN-PORED WOODS AND CEDAR
These may be finished the same as above except that paste wood filler of desired shade is required first. Where filler is used no stain need be applied even on high class work as it imparts sufficient coloring in being wiped off. Liquid filler will often serve for thin "wash" veneers on bottoms. Aromatic cedar should be left unfinished.
COLORING
On cheaper work an orange tone as found in shellac or the amber tone of substitute or varnish is sufficient, except possibly in the case of very white woods like birch. Where stain is used it should be reduced many shades lighter than the exterior, but should harmonize in tone; thinned paste wood filler may be wiped on the wood and then quickly wiped off to give a semistained effect at low cost.
APPLICATION
A well sanded drawer or interior is already half finished. If stained or filled the drawer bottoms may be dipped, dried and then assembled to be finished by spraying. All but lacquer and some substitute shellacs may be successfully applied by brushing as well as spraying and very cheap work can be dipped in varnish, reduced very thin. Varnish on work of any quality, however, should never be applied to the outside edges of drawers as it becomes gummy with heat and causes the drawer to stick. Wax is best for all points of contact between drawer and frame.
Picture Frames
PICTURE frame mouldings come for the most part in long strips already machined or pressed out in a running design by heat. As the woods employed, mostly gum with some bass, are rather soft, the mouldings sometimes reach the finisher already filled to smoothness with white glue primer, as for bathroom mirror frames; if not it is customary to procure a special sealer-surfacer of whiting and glue, to be colored a brick red, for burnishing applied by brush or spray and sanded smooth. Over this there is sprayed a base color coat of bronze powder, pale, rich or Roman gold, mixed in water and glue. Fine lining bronzes are essential for this work, especially as it is customary to burnish the high lights with the agate tool made for the purpose.
