Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
53
SOME IMPORTANT FACTS^ONCERNING VARNISH
T. Alexander, in the American Furniture Manufacturer, Writes Authoritatively on the Proper
Use of Varnish, and Tells of Some Simple Methods for Testing the Various Grades
The durability of a varnish when exposed to pores. It
It should then be allowed plenty of
the action of the weather depends largely on time to dry thoroughly.
And when you're satisfied
its elasticity, which may be judged from the
Shellac is'indispensable for use as first coater
that we've the best punch-
drying and other properties which are mentioned on resinous woods, particularly if white enamel
in this article. The durability depends, how- is to follow, as otherwise the pitch will stain
ings on the market, cut
ever, to a great extent on the particular resin the enamel and cause blemishes. Shellac being
clean and accurately from
("gum") from which the varnish was made, and easily affected by heat, its use as a first coater
the best of material in cellu-
there is unfortunately at present no method of on some lines of furniture is avoided.
ascertaining this in most cases, consequently
The most common adulterant of shellac is
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
the durability can only be ascertained by var- common rosin or colophony. It is reported that
leather, paper, rubber or
nishing a suitably primed board and exposing it large quantities of common rosin are shipped
to the weather. The durability when exposed to India and used as an adulterant of gum shel-
whatever you want, give
to the continued action of water may be very lac. To detect rosin in shellac, about one gram
us credit and send your
different to the durability exposure to ordinary of the sample is dissolved in about IS cubic
orders to
weather. In this case a test under the exact centimeters of acetic anhydride, warming gent-
conditions is requisite.
ly until the solution is complete. Cool thor-
But durability alone is not what we want. For oughly under the tap. The rosin will remain
if we were to make the most durable job pos- in solution while the greater part of the shellac
sible it would not begin to have the finish that will separate out. Filter. Place a few drops
we are able to obtain with the use of a good of the filtrate on a porcelain crucible, cover and
rubbing varnish for under coats. Extreme dur- add by means of stirring rod one drop of sul-
ability must be' sacrificed in order to obtain a phuric acid (34.7 c.c. sulphuric acid and 35.7 c.c.
good looking finish. The best, average of dur- water) so that it will mix slowly. If rosin is
137 E A S T I3 T -£ ST.
ability that can be found to be, both in theory present a characteristic violet fugitive color re-
and practice, is a free working varnish that sults. A pure shellac should give no colora-
N E.W YORK
will be perfectly hard after rubbing. All things tion. The writer has used this simple method
being equal, the free working and hard-drying of testing shellac for a great many years and seems impossible to hold the supply equal to
(especially the former) are a guaranty of non- very highly recommends it.
the demand.
liability to crack. From this it is very evident
It is unquestionably a sellers' market, with
Nearly all of the orange shellac sold is of
that we cannot use any of the desirable proper- good quality, but in many cases the white shel- buyers not only hunting for the stocks they
ties of a rubbing varnish to a maximum extent lac is adulterated. This is because adulteration want, but in many cases actually advertising
but that such use is very limited, and that the is so easy for the reason of its color which, of • for them.
Possibly the fact that many large consumers
limit is reached when the quality is used to the course, is the result of bleaching. The objection
greatest extent possible.
to rosin in shellac is that the shellac will dry allowed their stocks to become almost exhausted
As the varnish used by furniture manufac- soft. An adulterated shellac will remain tacky during the recent dull spell, and owing to the
turers is mostly that known as turpentine var- for hours and give considerable trouble in the large demand for their products, that de-
veloped rather suddenly, have been prevented
nish, though it will contain some linseed oil finishing.
also, it is important that the turpentine be gen- It seems to me that enough time is given to from accumulating the usual surplus stocks, has
uine gum distilled.
the application of coats in most furniture fac- ' a good deal to do with the matter, but there
A single test of turpentine used by many fin- tory finishing rooms. Of course, keen competi- is still a very lively demand for veneers.
ishers is to put a single drop of turpentine on a tion compels furniture manufacturers to pro- Prices have necessarily stiffened and will prob-
sheet of white paper. This must completely duce goods in shorter time than ten or twenty ably go considerably higher. It would seem a
evaporate at a temperature of 70 degrees F. years ago, but there is one thing that we can wiser policy for consumers to build up their
without leaving a stain. Turpentine adulterated underdo and that is wood finishing. Indeed, a reserve stocks, even at the advanced prices, than
with more than 10 to -20 per cent, of coal-tar wonderful improvement would be noticed in the to take chances on still further advances and
oils, gasoline or kerosene which has not been quality of the work in most finishing rooms if the possibility of serious delays in securing
deodorized may be readily detected by the char- more time were allowed for drying. Again, one satisfactory stocks.
acteristic odor of the mixture.
will find so much cheap, unskilled labor in fin-
ALL EMBARGOES LIFTED
We know that when varnish is applied di- ishing rooms. Strange as it may seem, many
rectly to bare wood, some of it will penetrate of these fellows believe that by putting on thick-
Embargoes that were imposed by all but a
the hollow pores, while a portion will adhere coats, one or possibly two coats will do. Thin few railroads of the country after the promulga-
to the sides and also to the tops of the hard coats, except for the final application, which tion of the brotherhoods' strike order last
filaments. After the varnish is dry, the sur- is to undergo rubbing, is by all odds the best, week officially were lifted immediately after
face presents a map in relief with mountain since the result secured does not depend on the the passage of the eight hour law.
chains, etc. If another coat of varnish is applied thickness of the layer of varnish, but on the These embargoes were really suspended
afterwjtfxis, the varnish will again adhere to number of layers.
throughout the day for the reason that the pas-
the sides and tops of the hills and valleys, but
It is as important to have a clean brush as sage of the eight hour measure was regarded
while more shiny it is true, they will still be it is to have clean varnish. Specky or dirty as inevitable since the House took favorable
there. One may add coat after coat, but still varnish can be removed from a job in a few action.
Therefore the restrictions against
there would be no perfect level. All this proves minutes, but a specky or dirty brush takes days freight that were supposed to be effective were
that filling is the foundation upon which all to work out clean.
unobserved and all kinds of goods were ac-
wood-finishing operations are based. There-
cepted
"subject to delay." At midnight not
VENEER AND LUMBER CONDITIONS
fore it stands to reason that it should be well
an embargo of importance was in existence.
done.
Curious Anomaly Existing Between Two Mar-
Fillers should be applied with stumpy, stiff
kets at the Present Time
brushes, which will rub the filler well down
into the grain of the wood. An ordinary filler
In the mind of the layman, veneers and lum-
will set fairly hard in- half an hour or an hour, ber are practically one product. That is, they
then the surplus should be rubbed off with are both forest products, can be cut from the
BRANCH OFFICES:
burlap, waste or excelsior, rubbing vigorously same trees and vary only in point of thickness.
across the grain of the wood; this crowds as There is a growing tendency to speak of veneers
Chicago
much as possible of the filler down into the as thin lumber.
160 No. Fifth ATC.
ill
Therefore the curious anomaly that exists in
San Francises
the market conditions between the two presents
164 Haniford Bldf.
something of a puzzle, says a writer in Veneers.
It is apparent from articles in some of the
Lot Ani elct
CINCINNATI, O.
• lumber journals that there has been an over-
224 Central Bldf.
Some of the sizes shown indicate the
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured | | | production of lumber which has affected prices
variety of " S O S S " Hinges which we
manufacture for use on pianos, player-
Minneapolii
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high- §j to such an extent that mills are urged to curtail
Dianos, talking machines and music
3416 Second Ave.,So.
grade piano cases and cabinets.
§§ their outputs until such time as the natural laws
ets.
There is a particular "SOSS" Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
of supply and demand will insure at least nor-
^^^^^^^ N*w York Office and Sample Room
=
Our illustrated catalog " S " gives
Detroit
complete and interesting information.
d mal and consequent reasonable prices.
922 David Whitney
Write for a copy and for quotations on
vour particular requirements.
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
pi
In the veneer field exactly opposite condi-
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
Soss Manufacturing Company,
|§ tions prevail. The market is very active, prices
G. H. VAUGHAN. Eastern Representative
435-443 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.
j§ above normal and in spite of the fact that many
p mills are running overtime and night shifts, it
C.FGQEPEL*CO
The Ohio Veneer Co. |
m