A variety of walnut fillings have been recommended to the trade in order to meet the demand consequent upon the different grades of finish and the method of obtaining the finish, so that it would be difficult to pronounce as to the superiority of any one filling for general purposes.  In treating this subject, attention should be given to the necessities for the use of filling, so that each one may determine for himself the kind of composition best adapted for the work in hand, and the best method of applying it.

=Finishing.=—­Having described the methods of making and applying the “fillings,” we will now describe the mode of finishing, and begin with the “dead-oil finish.”  We can remember when a satisfactory oil-finish was produced either with a good quality of japan or a fair quality of spirits.  These materials are recommended to be used by inexperienced workmen and those not familiar with the mixing of the various grades of japan and varnish with oil, turpentine, benzine, etc.  This method of oil-finish, too, is scarcely inferior to the shellac or spirit-varnish method, and it is cheaper.  When the best finish is desired, a sufficient number of coats to fill the pores of wood to a level are required, and then the whole surface should be subjected to the rubbing process.  The use of these fillers provides an oil-finish in a simplified form for those who are not aware of the difference between hard and soft gum compositions as a base for rubbing.  In fact, the rubbing process constitutes a fine oil-finish, and requires a hard gum, whether it be of japan, varnish, or shellac.

The use of varnish or its substitute as a filler and finish is more frequent than the use of shellac, and for cheap work it is equally good.  The surface produced by a hard gum composition must be smooth and dead, or but slightly glossed, so as to admit of the pores being filled full or to a level.  It may be added that a coat or any number of coats of the composition referred to above is substantially a filling, and the quality of finish depends upon the number of coats, together with the amount of rubbing applied.

Thus far we have simply called attention to the best quality of oil-finish and the manner of producing it.  Possibly three-fourths of all wood-finishing, particularly walnut-finishing, is several degrees below the best quality.  In fact, oil-finish may imply only one coat of any composition that will dry, while two coats may be regarded as fair, and three coats a very good quality of finish.  For the class of finish not rubbed down with pumice-stone and water, oil-varnish would be out of place on account of its gloss; hence shellac, being in composition similar to japan, is the better material, because of its dull appearance or lack of gloss as compared with shellac.