Note 3 — Chapter II

(p. 9.) Something about tools and materials has already been said in the Introductory Chapter, p. xiv. What is left to be said follows here:—

Copper plates, from visiting-card size (at $1 per dozen), to any required size can be bought of, or ordered through, the firms named on p. xiii, or of Mr. Geo. B. Sharp, 45 Gold St., New York. Mr. Sharp will send price-lists on application. The plates usually sold, at least of the smaller sizes, are made of an alloy, not of pure copper. These alloy plates are cheaper and bite more quickly than those of pure copper, but it happens occasionally that they do not bite evenly, owing to want of homogeneity in the metal. Still, they are extensively used, and amateurs will find them preferable to the more expensive copper plates.

Etching-ground. A recipe for a cheap and yet a very good ordinary ground has been given on p. xv. The transparent ground consists of

5 parts, by weight, of white wax.

3 „„gum-mastic.

Gum-mastic costs about thirty-five cents an ounce. Melt the wax first, and add the gum-mastic in powder gradually, stirring all the while with a clean glass or metal rod.

Stopping-out varnish. (See p. xvi.) There is a varnish sold at painters' supply-stores under the name of “Asphaltum Varnish for Sign-Writers' Use,” which does very well. In Boston Asahel Wheeler sells it at fifteen cents a bottle.

Needle-holders are unnecessary if the points described on p. xvi are used.

Burnishers are sold at the hardware-stores, or by dealers in watchmakers' materials. They ought not to cost above fifty cents apiece.

Scrapers. Same as burnishers. Price not above $1. Some dealers ask $2, which is exorbitant.

A lens can be obtained of any optician. In Boston they can also be had of A.J. Wilkinson & Co., hardware dealers, 184 Washington St., at prices varying from $1 to $1.50.

India-rubber finger-gloves are unnecessary if you use the “plate-lifter” described on p. xvii.

Nitric acid. Messrs. Powers & Weightman's “Nitric Acid, C. P.” (i. e. chemically pure), recommended on p. xvii, is 42 degrees, and Messrs. P. & W. inform me that the strength is tolerably uniform. If you are an enthusiastic etcher it will be best to buy a seven-pound bottle, which is the next largest to the one-pound bottles.

Tracing-paper, gelatine, chalk, and sanguine can be obtained at the artists' material stores.

Emery-paper. Hardware-stores. Price four cents a sheet.

Roller for revarnishing. See Note [5].

To the tools and materials mentioned by M. Lalanne the following must be added: Whiting, benzine, turpentine, alcohol, willow charcoal. The last-named article can be supplied by Mr. Geo. B. Sharp, of 45 Gold St., New York, before mentioned.