varnish. If more expensive work is desired, a coat of color varnish can be applied over the japan color. This color varnish can be made by adding a small percentage of the japan color to the rubbing varnish. When hard, rub smooth with fine steel wool or curled hair. Stripe or ornament as desired, then finish with a coat of elastic varnish. If the finish is to be black or green, the undercoats should be dark lead color; if wine, dark terra cotta or dark red; if vermilion, dark yellow for light or terra cotta for dark, and vermilion for carmine or lakes where a deep effect is desired.
Old Work. When store fronts and vestibules are to be painted in oil and are in good condition, showing no cracks or signs of peeling, they should be sandpapered smooth. If two coats are to be applied, the first should be reduced with half turpentine. Over this apply an oil paint. It should be borne in mind, however, that too much oil must not be used, especially where the fronts are exposed to the hot sun.
When store fronts and vestibules are to be repainted and varnished and the old paint has stood for two or three years and is in good condition, the surface not having received too numerous coats, they can sometimes be sandpapered smooth and a coat of flat ground color applied, then a coat of color in japan. Stripe and ornament, then finish with a coat of exterior varnish.
When the fronts have been repainted a number of times with oil paint, they will not stand sun exposure after receiving the varnish, without danger of blistering. In such cases the paint should be burned off or removed with a paint remover. The surface is then practically new and the work can proceed as with new work, with the exception of the priming or first coat, which should contain a larger percentage of turpentine to assist in penetrating through any old paint left on the wood. Then proceed as with new work, building up the surface in the same manner by using
