OCR Text |
Show TO PAINT H OLD FLOORS jryjl E sure your floor Is clean; It 1 1 j there should be paint spots on H JJ it clean off with caustic pot- H ash, and if there are any largo H cracks fill them with putty. You can buy staining of all kinds at tho Lard- H ware stores and dilute it with turpen- H tine, as it is too thick usually. If tho H floor Is to be all walnut do with a cloth H or brush. If you want to mako your H stain buy a one-pound can of burnt H umber ground in oil; mix a sufficient quantity of thlB with boiled linseed oil to color it without thickening the oil to notice It much. Try It on a small piece of wood till you get the color de- sired, and In this way you can easily determine the quantity of umber to use. It should bo a rich walnut brown. Rub this thoroughly into your floor till the stain ceases to como off. If jf the coloring Is not dark enough when IH dry give another coat. H The floor now being stained, prepard IH for the next day's waxing. Mix ono jf gallon of turpentine, with ono pound jH of beeswax shaved thin. Soak tho IH wax all night in the turpentine beforo using, then rub on with a woolen cloth. When the wood Anally becomes well polished apply wax occasionally. A very easy stain is made by putting burned amber in alcohol to make it tho proper consistency for easy appllca- tlon and apply as above; then give a H thin coat of shellac, and when dry IH sand paper nicely and givo a good flowing coat of common varnish, which will give it a splendid finish. For oak stain To strong lyo of wood ashes add enough copperas for jH the required shade. Put on with a jH mop and varnish when dry. It is hard work any way It Is done, and a woman must be strong to attempt it. Put a breadth of carpet down where you havo tho most wear. A very pretty ef- IH feet will be seen if you stain very oth- cr board (if narrow ones especially) IH with tho walnut |