Mormon History, May 9, 1849

[Apostle Wilford Woodruff Journal] 9th I recieved A letter from Jacob Gibson & wrote one to him & sent him O Pratts Pamphlet, & one to Shelden Wooster, an Epistle to John Druce.
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Receipt for Etching & Engraving on Steel
Take A small quantity of lampblack mixed with some of the strongest Varnish mixed to A paste with A knife on A plate then thined with turpentine so as to write or draw with it. Then write on steel any thing that is Needed And let it dry. Then take A Tea spoonfull of Aquafortis A drop of quicksilver in it. When the quicksilver is desolved Add A tea spoonful of water. Then it is ready for use.
How to use the Material for etching
Cover the edge & back with the same material that we write with And all parts whare it is not wished for the Aquafortis to take Effect And when the Article is dry (the steel should be kept free from greese) then Apply the preperation of quick silver & Aquafortis with A small rag rolled into A little brush diped into the preperation & rubed even across the length of the blade & let it remain 2 1/2 minutes after the polish is taken off. Then dip the blade in water then wipe it dry. Then take clear turpentine & rub over the blade untill the varnish is clean off & while the blade is wet with the Terpentine dip it into dry slack lime. Then polish the blade in Chalk & water with A peace of soft leather And it will Appear of A silver cast.
To Engrave on Steel
Follow the same direction As for Etching ownly Cover the steel all over with the varnish. Then write on it as soon as it is dry with A Needle or Any sharp instrument that will cut through the varnish so as to give room for the Aquafortis to eat And instead of 2 1/2 minutes let it Eat 10 minutes or as long as is found necessary by Experiment. Go through the same process of cleaning & polishing as before.
For Curing Any kind of Hydes with wool or Hair on
Take Common salt & Allum of Equal quantity & make strong brine of it. Let the skin be washed Clean with water, then lay them flat on the ground with the wool or Hair down. Then take the salt & Allum water & cover the skins with it on the flesh side. Let it remain on a small skin 24 hours on A large skin 48. Then wash it in clean water. Then stretch it. Let it dry. Then Curry it with Courrier tools untill it is pliable.
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[source: Wilford Woodruff's Journal: 1833-1898 Typescript, Volumes 1-9, Edited by Scott G. Kenney, Signature Books 1993, http://amzn.to/newmormonstudies]

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