(5) Shellac 4 parts
Wax 8 parts
Soap 5 parts
Lampblack 3 parts
The shellac is to be completely dissolved with the wax by means of
combustion after which the rest of the treatment is the same as before.
(6) Shellac 4 parts
Wax 8 parts
Tallow 2 parts
Soap 5 parts
Lampblack 3 parts
The same treatment, except that the tallow is to be mixed in after the
shellac has dissolved. This crayon is a little softer than the others.
The same is true of the following two.
(7) Wax 8 parts
Tallow 4 parts
Soap 6 parts
Lampblack 3 parts
Wax, tallow, and soap are melted together and burned till one third of
the mass has been consumed. Then the lampblack is added and the rest of
the process is as before.
(8) Wax 2 parts
Tallow 6 parts
Mennig 2 parts
Lampblack 2 parts
Wax, mennig, and lampblack are heated and constantly stirred till the
mennig dissolves in froth and changes from red to brown. Then the
lampblack is rubbed in thoroughly, the whole warmed again properly and
shaped into sticks.
These are the best compositions, thoroughly tested by me, and it is very
good to make a stock of all or most of them. In the case of the recipes
for chemical ink, the differences are not great, and it is largely a
matter of taste as to which kind one may use. But in the case of the
crayons, each of them produces a different grain which creates a
particular effect; so that by using various kinds of crayon one will
gain greater perfection of work, or, at least, find execution easier
than with only one crayon. Also, they are in proportion to the greater
or lesser roughness of the stones; and the darker shadings are easier to
produce with soft crayons than with hard ones, while the hard ones are
best for fine shading and outlines.
The lampblack used for crayons must be burned out first, else it will
develop blisters, which is the case also if the composition is poured on
the plates too hot.
Crayon that contains much shellac is likely to soften in damp air;
therefore it should be kept in tightly closed vessels.
IX
CONCERNING COLOR FOR PRINTING
The manufacture of printing-ink or color is very difficult and dangerous
on a large scale. I counsel all to take lessons from a book printer when
he makes it.
The varnish must be prepared in the open, far from buildings, because of
its combustibility. The best utensils and skilled workmen are required,
because otherwise terrible accidents may occur, and even life be lost
through explosion of the copper receptacle. Whoever does not require as
much as one or more hundredweight of varnish in a year, would better buy
it from printers or make only a small quantity, one or two pounds, and
in an open vessel. For this purpose I will describe the process.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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