HANDYMAN’S CORNER

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 4, 29 September 1933, Page 4

HANDYMAN’S CORNER

TO ENAMEL FURNITURE

“Amateur” writes:—lam going to enamel my bedroom furniture grey, can you advise me bow to proceed? It is now stained and varnished a dark shade. Will I have to remove this before applying the flat paint? You are unlikely to achieve satisfactory . results unless you remove the old varnish. This may be done with a varnish remover, a blow-torch, or sandpaper. If it is not done the chances are that enamel will not take. It is advisable to buy a special flat undercoat the same shade or lighter than you intend the finishing coat to- be. This is easy to apply, and. more economical than using enamel twice over. Also it makes a much ,better job. When theuindercoat is thoroughly dry, add the finishing coat, doing all under-parts first, then working from the top down as swiftly and smoothly as possible. A WORN OILSTONE “A.C.F. asks how best to treat au oilstone that has lost its “bite.” A good oilstone, natural or composition, should not lose its bite properly created. However, if this does occur there are three probable causes: (1) Cheap and inferior stoiies in some instances have a thin cutting surface. This soon wears away, leaving a piece of slate underneath that is useless; (2) sometimes a natural stone varies in the fineness of its grain, through its thickness, which causes it to cut quicker or slower ns the case may be: (3) using the wrong kind of oil,, or allowing dust to settle on the surface of the stone, will clog it and cause it to become useless. Linseed or oils of that type should not be used. Neatsfoot oil is best for natural stones, and sperm oil for composition stones. If a stone has lost its bite boil it for six hours in weak soda water, putting the stone into the water when cold.

E. M. I*. Shipton: No difficulty need be experienced in obtaining a suitable wax, though Hie particular type mentioned may not be readily procurable. Your hardware dealer or paint supplier doubtless stocks a wax for the purpose.