CHAPTER IV.

CHEAP WORK.

=Glazing.=—­Glaze is known to the trade under several names, such as slake, finish, and telegraph; it is used only for cheap work, when economy of time is a consideration, and is made as follows:  mastic, 1 oz.; benzoin, 5 ozs.; methylated spirit, 5 gills.  A superior article can be obtained from G. Purdom, 49, Commercial Road, Whitechapel, E., who is the manufacturer of a “patent glaze.”

First give the work a rubber or two of polish after the “filling-in”; it is important to dry the last rubber thoroughly, so that no unctuousness remains upon the surface before applying the glaze, otherwise it will be of no effect.  The way to apply it is as follows:  Prepare a rubber as for polishing and make it moderately wet, and take only one steady wipe the way of the grain, never going over the same surface twice while wet; and when dry, if one coat is found not to be enough, apply a second in the same manner.  For mouldings or the backs and sides of chair-work, this is generally considered to be sufficient.  Some polishers will persist in using glaze to a large extent, even on the best-paid work; but it is not recommended, as the surface will not retain its brilliancy for a lengthened period, particularly in hot weather.  Nothing is so good for the best class of work as polishing entirely with French polish.

The way of treating small flat surfaces such as the frames of tables, looking-glasses, builders’ work, etc., is to first fill in, and give one or two rubbers of polish, drying the last rubber thoroughly; then glaze, and after a period of two or three hours finish with a rubber slightly wetted with thin polish.  It is a bad plan to put glaze on newly-spirited work, or to re-apply it on old bodies.

The following is another method for cheap work:  A coating of clear size is first given in a warm state (this can be obtained at most oil-shops), and when dry is rubbed down with fine glass-paper, after which a coating of varnish is applied with a sponge or a broad camel-hair brush, giving long sweeping strokes.  The tool should be plied with some degree of speed, as spirit varnishes have not the slow setting properties which distinguish those of oil, and care should be taken not to go over the same part twice.  When this is thoroughly hard it is nicely smoothed with fine paper, a few rubberfuls of polish is given, and it is then ready for spiriting-off.

Another plan is frequently adopted for cheap work:  Make a thin paste with plaster of Paris, suitably tinted and watered, and well rub in across the grain with a piece of felt or old coarse canvas till the pores are all full; any superfluity should be instantly wiped off from the surface before it has time to set.  The succeeding processes are papering and oiling.  In applying the polish, which should be done immediately after oiling, the rubber should be made rather sappy