White Paint

What's the big deal, you ask? Well, you'll find some interesting tidbits below that folks during the 19th Century used with or for their white paint.

A beautiful White Paint, For inside work, which ceases to smell, and dries in a few hours. Add one pound of frankincence to two quarts of spirits of turpentine; dissolve it over a clear fire, strain it, and bottle it for use; then add one pint of this mixture to four pints of bleached linseed oil, shake them well together, grind white lead in spirits of turpentine and strain it, then add sufficient of the lead to make it proper for painting; if too thick in using, thin with turpentine, it being suitable for the best internal work on account of its superiority and expense.

For a pure White Paint, Nut oil is the best; if linseed oil is used, add one third of turpentine.

To Mix Common White Paint. Mix or grind white lead in linseed oil to the consistency of paste, add turpentine in the proportion of one quart to a gallon of oil; but these proportions must be varied according to circumstances. Remember to strain your color for the better sorts of work. If the work is exposed to the sun, use more turpentine for the ground color to prevent its blistering.

For Knotting. One pint of vegetable naptha, one tea spoonful of red lead, quarter of a pint of japanners' gold size, seven ounces of orange shellack. Added together, set in a warm place to dissolve, and frequently shaken. ANOTHER. Mix white or red lead powder in strong glue size and apply it warm.
Source: Painter's Grainers' and Writers. ©1852