1     **’» ‘
       
_- 5 Y ‘ i;
    Touching Up the Old Furniture 5 I   _»V,  
  · l ’‘·A :   ·
  · Dark stains may be bleached with an oxalie solution made g   T
i 3 in the proportion of 1 teaspoon of oxalic acid crystals to a pint 1 1*] .
    of warm water. This solution may be rubbed on the stains with   j_ 1}-ffl
‘ l a soft cloth and after a few hours the spots should be washed      if
» thoroly to remove traces of the acid and then smoothed with   lgji`;
Q sandpaper when dry. _ i  
. l TREATMENT r=0R MAHOGANY, CHERRY, WALNUT, OAK  
Rnmovme THE OLD F1N1sH  
Using a Steel Scraper. A thin, brittle finish may be re-  
i moved by means of a steel scraper, fine steel wool or a piece of  
T glass. The scraper is the safest one to use if the scraping edge  
is kept sharpened square with a {ile. The scraper should be held A  
L at an angle of 45° to GOO and the work done with the grain, and i  
_ j with care to avoid splintering the wood. Steel wool is preferable 1  
  for use on delicate veneered surfaces. The fingers may be pro-  
  teeted from the steel wool by old gloves or a piece of cloth. Fine =  
steel wool or ammonia may be used for the turnings, cracks and  
COl'lll‘l'S. Ammonia should be used sparingly so as not to raise the  
grain or bleach the wood. It may be applie_d by means of a `  
small stick wrapped in a cloth. Old coats of varnish or paint in  
i deep creases may be removed by the use of OO sandpaper folded  
over it una, auu blade. ·  
Using a Varnish Renwvcr. \Vhen the old finish is thick and  
hard it is desirable to use a varnish remover which may be ap-  
plied according t-o directions on the can. It will give very good .  
service if applied over a clean, dry surface which has been  
broken with sandpaper or the steel scraper. The old finish will  
become soft in a few minutes and may be removed with old  
cloths and the steel scraper or a dull blade. lt is sometimes  
necessary to apply two or three coats of the remover. All traces ,  
of the remover should be neutralized by thoro washing with gaso- T  
p line, benzine or denatured alcohol so that the new Hnish will not  
l be injured. V · — » v · - . ,  
Sandpapering. When the old finish has been removed accord- = li 
ing to the above directions and thee piece of furniture is clean ’ 
T l