DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19574#0021
A M B 9
Others take Amber to be a compound fubftance, and fay
that Prufiia, and other countries, that produce Amber, are moi-
ffened with a bituminous juice, which mixing with the vitriolic
falts abounding in thofe places, the points of thofe falts fix its
fluidity, whence it congeals ; and the refult of that congelation
makes what we call Amber.
The mod remarkable property of Amber is that, when
rubbed, it draws or attracts other bodies to it, and alfo, that by
friction it is brought to yield light pretty copioufly. As for the
mechanical ufes of Amber, it is ufed in making varnifhes fcr
feveral ufes.
To make artificial Amber. Boil turpentine in an earthen
pot, with a little cotton (fome add a little oil) ftirring it, till
it is as thick as pafte, then put it into what you pleafe, and fet
it in the fun for eight days, and it will be clear and hard : Of
which you may make beads, hafts of knives, or the like.
To make yellow Amber foft. Put yellow Amber into hot
melted wax well fcummed, and it will be foft, fo that you may
make things of it of what form or fafhion you pleafe.
Melt fome turpentine in a glafs, in a fand heat, where the
fire may be raifed at difcretion ; then provide your felf with three
ounces of Amber, either of the whiteftor yelloweft fort.
To melt Amber, and caft it into any figure, with files or anv
fmall animals in it, as is fieen in thofe valuable pieces of Amber fold
at a great price. From Mr. Boyle.
Levigate your Amber, and fprinkle in the powdered Amber
into the melted turpentine, ftirring it all the while with a piece
of fir-wood, till you find no refiftance ; then, if you find your
melting to refill the flick, drop in, by degrees, a little Venice
turpentine, and keep it frill ftirring, till all the powdered Am-
ber is difiblved, and is thick enough to pour into moulds; and,
when it is cold, you will have what figure you propofe remain
as hard as Amber itfelf, with all the fame qualities that Amber
commonly has.
An Amber Varnifh, from Mr. Boyle. Take of white rofin
four drachms, melt it in a clean glazed pipkin, then put into it
two ounces of the whiteft Amber you can get, finely powdered,
by little and little, ftirring it with a fmall ftick over a gentle
fire, till it diflblves, pouring in, now and then, a little oil of
turpentine ; when you find it begin to grow ftiff, fo continue to
do till all the Amber is melted.
But great care muft be taken that you do not fet the houfe
on fire, for the very vapours of the oil of turpentine will take
fire by heat only; but, ifitfhould happen to do fo, imme-
diately cover the vefiel clofe with a fiat board or wet blanket,
and, the air being kept from it, it will go out.
Others take Amber to be a compound fubftance, and fay
that Prufiia, and other countries, that produce Amber, are moi-
ffened with a bituminous juice, which mixing with the vitriolic
falts abounding in thofe places, the points of thofe falts fix its
fluidity, whence it congeals ; and the refult of that congelation
makes what we call Amber.
The mod remarkable property of Amber is that, when
rubbed, it draws or attracts other bodies to it, and alfo, that by
friction it is brought to yield light pretty copioufly. As for the
mechanical ufes of Amber, it is ufed in making varnifhes fcr
feveral ufes.
To make artificial Amber. Boil turpentine in an earthen
pot, with a little cotton (fome add a little oil) ftirring it, till
it is as thick as pafte, then put it into what you pleafe, and fet
it in the fun for eight days, and it will be clear and hard : Of
which you may make beads, hafts of knives, or the like.
To make yellow Amber foft. Put yellow Amber into hot
melted wax well fcummed, and it will be foft, fo that you may
make things of it of what form or fafhion you pleafe.
Melt fome turpentine in a glafs, in a fand heat, where the
fire may be raifed at difcretion ; then provide your felf with three
ounces of Amber, either of the whiteftor yelloweft fort.
To melt Amber, and caft it into any figure, with files or anv
fmall animals in it, as is fieen in thofe valuable pieces of Amber fold
at a great price. From Mr. Boyle.
Levigate your Amber, and fprinkle in the powdered Amber
into the melted turpentine, ftirring it all the while with a piece
of fir-wood, till you find no refiftance ; then, if you find your
melting to refill the flick, drop in, by degrees, a little Venice
turpentine, and keep it frill ftirring, till all the powdered Am-
ber is difiblved, and is thick enough to pour into moulds; and,
when it is cold, you will have what figure you propofe remain
as hard as Amber itfelf, with all the fame qualities that Amber
commonly has.
An Amber Varnifh, from Mr. Boyle. Take of white rofin
four drachms, melt it in a clean glazed pipkin, then put into it
two ounces of the whiteft Amber you can get, finely powdered,
by little and little, ftirring it with a fmall ftick over a gentle
fire, till it diflblves, pouring in, now and then, a little oil of
turpentine ; when you find it begin to grow ftiff, fo continue to
do till all the Amber is melted.
But great care muft be taken that you do not fet the houfe
on fire, for the very vapours of the oil of turpentine will take
fire by heat only; but, ifitfhould happen to do fo, imme-
diately cover the vefiel clofe with a fiat board or wet blanket,
and, the air being kept from it, it will go out.