Down And Varnish Ed: The floorboards were stripped of old, peeling varnish and lightly sanded. A ready-tinted varnish, that gives the impression of whitewash, was then painted over the boards. In a hallway, a space that sees lots of traffic, it's a good idea to choose a quick drying varnish, so the Floor isn't out of bounds for too long at a time. On the stairs, carpet has been laid, which helps deaden noise when people walk up and down and varnish ed.
The final finish may be of a type that gives a surface film, such as French polish, varnish, or polyurethane. The latter two are available in gloss, satin, and matte finishes. Varnish stains are also available. These are convenient, since they will color and finish the wood in a single operation.
Do bear in mind that each extra coat of varnish stain will darken the color of the wood and, unless brushed out very evenly, the color will vary with the thickness of the film. When wood is stained with a penetrating dye, the color will not vary - no matter how many coats of clear finish you later apply.
Turpentine is consumed mostly in industrial chemicals, also as thinner for paint and varnish, and in medicine. Rosin is used chiefly as a size for finishing the surface of paper, in paint and varnish, and for friction surfacing on such things as violin bows and machine belts. Blisters in balsam fir bark contain Canada balsam, a resin long employed for cementing optical lenses and mounting microscopic slides.
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