Important: Safety Warning
This page describes practices involving highly flammable materials in ways that create a serious risk of fire or explosion.
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
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Adhesives, Paints, and Varnishes: Shellac
Shellac Cement for China and Glass. - Sealing wax, the principal ingredient of which is shellac, or powdered shellac itself, may be used as a cement by dusting the edges of chinaware or other articles with it, heating them until the shellac runs, and pressing them firmly together.
Failure to get good results by this method is due to lack of sufficient heat or the use of too much of the material. Or dissolve white shellac in alcohol to the consistency of molasses, and apply to the edges of broken glassware or other glass surfaces to be joined. This sets quickly without heat and will stand all ordinary wear except heat equal to boiling water. Or dissolve 2 ounces of white shellac and 4 ounce of gum mastic in 1 ounce of pure sulphuric ether. Let the mixture stand for an hour and add 1 pint of 95 per cent alcohol.
Bottle and cork tightly for use.
Shake well before using. Heat the articles to be mended, apply the cement evenly with a soft brush, and hold the surface together until it sets.
Or, for so-called Chinese cement, put 4 ounces of pale-orange shellac in a glass bottle and pour over it 3 ounces of 95 per cent alcohol, and let stand in a warm place until dissolved. This will have the consistency of molasses. It is suitable for wood, glass, jewelry, ivory, and all fancy work. It is very strong.