2152. Armenian or Jeweler's Cement

2152.      Armenian or Jeweler's Cement. The following is a receipt for a strong cement used by some oriental nations, for the purpose of attaching precious stones to metallic surfaces: Take 6 pieces of gum mastic, the size of a pea, and dissolve them in the smallest possible quantity of 95 per cent, alcohol. Soften some isinglass in water (though none of the water must be used), and saturate strong brandy with it till you have 2 ounces of glue; then rub in 2 small pieces of gum ammoniac. Mix the two preparations at a heat. Keep well stoppered. Set the bottle in hot water before using. It is said by the Turks that this preparation will unite two metallic surfaces, even of polished steel.

2153. Keller's Armenian Cement for Glass, China, etc.

2153.     Keller's Armenian Cement for Glass, China, etc.. Soak 2 drachms cut isinglass in 2 ounces water for 24 hours; boil down to 1 ounce; add 1 ounce spirit of wine, and strain through linen. Mix this, while hot, with a solution of 1 drachm mastic in 1 ounce rectified spirit, and triturate thoroughly with 1/2 drachm powdered gum ammoniac.

2154. Ure's Diamond Cement

2154.    Ure's Diamond Cement. Take 1 ounce isinglass and 6 ounces distilled water; boil down to 3 ounces; add 11/2 ounces rectified spirit. Boil for 2 minutes, strain, and add, while hot, 1/2 ounce of a milky emulsion of ammoniac, and 5 drachms tincture of gum mastic.

2155. Chinese Cement

2155.    Chinese Cement. Take of orange shellac, bruised, 4 ounces; highly rectified spirit of wine, 3 ounces. Set the mixture in a warm place, frequently shaking it till the shellac is dissolved. Wood naphtha may be substituted for the spirit of wine, but the unpleasant smell of the naphtha is some objection.

2156. To Mend Broken Glass

2156.    To Mend Broken Glass. A much better process for mending broken glass, china and earthenware with shellac, than heating them, is to dissolve the shellac in alcohol to about the consistence of molasses, and with a thin splinter of wood or pencil-brush touch the edges of the broken ware. In a short time it sets without any heating, which is often inconvenient. It will stand every contingency but a heat equal to boiling water.

2157. To Mend Crockery Ware

2157.     To Mend Crockery Ware. One of the strongest cements and easiest applied for this purpose is lime and the white of an egg. To use it, take a sufficient quantity of the egg to mend one article at a time, shave off a quantity of lime, and mix thoroughly. Apply quickly to the edges and place firmly together, when it will very soon become set and strong. Mix but a small quantity at once, as it hardens very soon, so that it cannot be used. Calcined plaster of Paris would answer the same purpose.

2158. Badigeon

2158.     Badigeon. A cement used by operatives and artists to fill up holes and cover defects in their work. Statuaries use a mixture of plaster and free-stone for this purpose ; carpenters, a mixture of sawdust and glue, or of whiting and glue; coopers use a mixture of tallow and chalk. The same name is given to a stone colored mixture used for the fronts of houses, and said to be composed of wood-dust and lime slacked together, stone-powder, and a little umber or sienna, mixed up with alum water to the consistence of paint.