es of finish
use drop black with the umber. Varnish and rub down.

According to a foreign technical journal, French workmen mahoganize
various kinds of woods by the following method: The surface of the wood
to be stained is made perfectly smooth. Then it is given a coating of
dilute nitric acid which is rubbed well into the wood fiber. Then it is
stained with a mixture made by dissolving 1-1/2 oz. of dragon's blood in
a pint of alcohol, this solution being filtered, and then there is added
to it one-third of its weight of sodium carbonate. Apply this mixture
with a brush, and repeat the coats at intervals until the surface has
the appearance of polished mahogany. In case the luster should fail it
may be restored by rubbing with a little raw linseed oil. The
description of the process is meager, and hence he who would try it will
have to experiment a little.

A good cheap mission effect for oak is to mix together equal parts of
boiled linseed oil and good asphaltum varnish, and apply this to the
wood with a brush; in a minute or so you may rub off surplus with a rag,
and when dry give a coat of varnish. A gallon of this stain will cover
about 600 sq. ft.

FILLING OAK

A very good hardwood filler for oak, either for a natural or golden
effect, may be made from two parts of turpentine and one part of raw
linseed oil, with a small amount of good japan to dry in the usual time.
To this liquid add bolted gilder's whiting to form a suitable paste, it
may be made thin enough for use, if to be used at once, or into a stiff
paste for future use, when it can be thinned down for use, says
Woodworkers' Review. After applying a coat of filler, let stand until it
turns gray, which requires about 20 minutes, depending upon the amount
of japan in the filler, when it should be rubbed off with cotton waste
or whatever you use for the purpose. A filler must be rubbed well into
the wood, the surplus only being removed. The application of a coat of
burnt umber stain to the wood before filling is in order, which will
darken the wood to the proper depth if you rub off the surplus, showing
the grain and giving a golden oak effect. The filling should stand at
least a day and night before applying shellac and varnish.

WAX FINISHING

In wax-finishing hardwoods, use a paste filler and shellac varnish to
get a good surface. Of course, the wax may also be rubbed into the
unfilled wood but that gives you quite a different effec