TONING DOWN NEW OAK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 463, 19 September 1928, Page 7

TONING DOWN NEW OAK

THREE EFFECTIVE METHODS There are several methods of toning down new oak to match old oak. One is to mix 21b of common soda, lib of burnt umber, with three pints of water, and simmer till the mixture is reduced to a quart, and apply with a brush. Another, for a dull finish, is to apply french polish or varnish, aaid when this is hard to rub down l>y means of pumice powder or emery applied with a hard brush, such as a nail brush. An antique finish is obtained by applying a wax polish after the dulling down process. This gives a gloss instead of a shine. Another method is permanganate of potash, which, when dissolved in water, gives a purple solution which turns brown as it dries. Bichromate of potash is in the form of orange coloured crystals. Dissolved in water (loz to a pint) it turns most oak into a reddishbrown colour, and, mixed with burnt umber, the exact shade can be obtained. Generally some kinds of potash will turn the oak sufficiently dark without the aid of the umber, which at best is only an earth pigment, though there are cases where the addition of umber or Vandyke is of great assistance in obtaining a colour more quickly or in tempering the harshness of a colour obtained by potash alone. One ounce of potash is sometimes sufficient for one and ahalf pints of water. The best Way is. to experiment a little and find out the correct shade. An old receipt for imitating old oak says this can be done with sulphate of iron wash, and gone over after with boiled linseed oil, or it can be dressed with boiled linseed oil and Bismarck brown or asphalt varnish dissolved in boiled linseed oil.