Preparations of the Colours
The preparations used by different binders vary much, as will be seen by the recipes given for the same colours, which we judge necessary to put on record, that nothing connected with the subject should be omitted, premising that each colour may be depended upon for producing the most satisfactory results. It may be proper also to observe that the whole of the woods and other ingredients used should be previously powdered or reduced to small pieces, the colours being thereby much better extracted.
BLACK.
1. Dissolve half a pound of green copperas in two quarts of water. The oxide contained in the sulphate of iron will combine with the tanning of the leather, and produce a good black.
2. Boil in a cast-iron pot a quart of vinegar, with a quantity of rusty nails, or steel-filings, till reduced one-third, taking off the scum as it rises to the top. This liquid improves by age. To keep up the quantity, boil with more vinegar.
3. A cheaper liquid may be produced by boiling two pints of beer and two pints of water with two pounds of old iron and a pint of vinegar, scumming as before, and bottling for use.
BROWN.
1. Half a pound of good Dantzic or American potash dissolved in one quart of rain-water, and preserved in a bottle well corked.
2. Salts or oil of tartar, in the same proportions as above.
3. A beautiful brown may be procured from the green shells of walnuts. To prepare this, a quantity of the green shells, when the nuts are gathered, must be pounded in a mortar to extract the juice, and then put into a vessel capable of holding a sufficient quantity of water. The water being put in, the whole should be frequently stirred, and left to soak, with the vessel covered. Afterwards the liquid must be passed through a sieve, the juice well expressed, and bottled, with some common salt, for use. This liquid, after fermentation, will produce the best effects, for the uniform tints, as it tends to soften the leather, and will not corrode.
BLUE.
1. It is usual with many binders to use Scott’s Liquid Blue, but it is necessary to know the preparation of the colour. Perhaps the best and most simple one known is one given by Poerner, which is as follows:—In four ounces of sulphuric acid, of 66 degrees, mix gradually one ounce of finely-powdered indigo, so as to form a sort of pulp. Place the vessel in another containing boiling water, for some hours, and then leave it to cool. Afterwards put to it a small portion of good potash, dry and finely powdered, stirring the whole well, and letting it rest for twenty-four hours, when bottled, and use as required. This colour will appear nearly black, but may be made to any shade by adding water to it. If any portion remain after being diluted, it must be put into a separate bottle, as if mixed with the first preparation the whole would be deteriorated.
2. A readier blue may be prepared by mixing one ounce of powdered indigo with two ounces of oil of vitriol, and letting it stand for twenty-four hours, and then adding twelve ounces of pure water.
PURPLE.
Boil half a pint of archill or logwood with vinegar and water, of each half a pint.
LILAC.
Same as for the purple, with the addition of about two table-spoonsful of potash.
VIOLET.
Half a pound of logwood chips and one ounce of Brazil dust, boiled over a good fire in four pints of water till reduced one-half, and left to clear. Then throw in one ounce of powdered alum and two grains of cream of tartar, and again boil till dissolved. This liquid must be used warm.
FAWN.
In two pints of water boil one ounce of tan, and a like portion of nutgall, till reduced to a pint.
YELLOW.
1. To one ounce of good caked saffron, turmeric, or French berries, add a portion of spirits of wine or aqua regia, and leave the mixture to macerate. This liquid is used cold, and may be varied to any shade by adding water when required.
2. In two pints of water put eight ounces of French berries, and boil till reduced one-half. Then pass it through a sieve or fine cotton, and add a small quantity of powdered alum, and again boil, using it warm.
ORANGE.
In a pint and a half of potash liquid, boil a quarter of a pound of fustic chips till reduced one-half; then put in an ounce of good annatto, well beaten, and, after boiling, a small portion of alum, and use warm.
GREEN.
1. Liquid blue and yellow mixed will best suit for general purposes.
2. Dissolve in a bottle one ounce of verdigris in an ounce of white wine vinegar, and place the whole before a fire for four or five days, frequently shaking the bottle.
RED.
There are three sorts of red,—viz.: common, fine, and scarlet.
Common.—1. In a tinned kettle boil half a pound of Brazil wood, eight grains of nutgalls, both powdered, and three pints of water, till the whole is reduced one-third. Then add powdered alum and sal-ammoniac, of each one ounce, and when dissolved strain through a sieve. This liquid must always be used warm.
2. Boil a quarter of a pound of Brazil dust, two ounces of powdered cochineal, and a little alum, in two pints of the best vinegar, till a bright red is produced. Use warm.
Fine.—1. In three pints of water boil half a pound of Brazil dust and half an ounce of powdered nutgalls. Pass the whole through a fine cotton, and replace the liquid on the fire, adding one ounce of powdered alum and half an ounce of sal-ammoniac. Give the whole another boil, and then add a portion of aqua regia, according to the shade desired, and use warm.
2. A quicker and cheaper proceeding is by putting in a cup a portion of Brazil wood, and adding to it the aqua regia, letting it stand for a quarter of an hour to extract the colour.
Scarlet.—To one ounce of white nutgalls and one ounce of cochineal, both finely powdered, add two pints of boiling water. After boiling some time, add half an ounce of aqua regia, and use warm.