Important safety note: This is an archival educational text, not a modern recipe, technical sheet or operating manual. Some historic pigments, binders, solvents and coatings may be toxic, flammable, explosive, corrosive or restricted today. Do not mix or use materials according to this text without a current safety data sheet, manufacturer’s instructions, adequate ventilation, personal protective equipment and professional evaluation.
Painting works and the sale of paints are not part of the current public offer of Savo Kusić. Today’s production focus consists of wooden windows, wood-aluminum windows and custom doors.
Paints and mixing compatibility
The basic prerequisite for using paints is knowing which of them can be mixed together. The tables provide initial information for mixing basic colours. In the terminology of the original text, a colourant is called a pigment.
The ability to mix pigments is determined based on the following diagrams:
1. - terra-sienna red
2. - lithopone
3. - zinc white
4. - titanium white
5. - barite yellow
6. - cobalt yellow
7. - ultramarine yellow
8. - chrome yellow
9. - chrome-orange red
10. - baltimore yellow
11. - yellow iron oxide
12. - cadmium-orange yellow
13. - kadmophon
14. - new yellow
15. - chrome brown
16. - cologne brown
17. - Mars brown
18. - red iron oxide
19. - caput mortuum
20. - cinnabar
21. - cadmium red
22. - ultramarine
23. - mixed blue
24. - Paris Blue
25. - cobalt blue
26. - Bremen blue
27. - manganese violet
28. - chrome-oxide-green
29. - chrome-oxide-hydrate-green
30. - chrome green
31. - zinc green
32. - cobalt green
33. - black iron oxide
34. - black as soot
35. - “sit” yellow
36. - carmine lake
37. - Munich lake
38. - madder vermilion
Other materials needed for painting
White earth is a type of light-colored clay, sold ground into powder or in the form of bricks, and used for painting walls. Its color is slightly yellowish, light gray. Its structure is slightly grainy, easy to crush and greasy to the touch.
Painting blocks are made from ground white earth and water and are shaped like bricks. With the addition of Vienna white or another material for adjusting the tone and binding, they are used as a base coat (primer). According to the historical recipe, for 1 kg of white earth, 1,5-2 l of water and 1,5-2 dkg of animal glue for thickening are added. The specified amount of mixture is described as sufficient for priming 3-4 m2 of wall surface.
Chalk is an integral part of specific soil. It dissolves in carbonic acid and is used by some plants (chalk deposits were formed by the deposition of the remains of sea snails, shells and corals). Chalk extraction is only economical if it is on the surface or just below the surface of the earth. After extracting the chalk, it is first ground and if it is not clean enough, it is cleaned by various sedimentation methods.
Good quality chalk mixed with water produces a mushy substance and does not contain particles of sand or clay. Due to its good adhesion, it is used for paints dissolved in water. The basic material is important. It is used not only for coloring white tones, but also for priming other tones. It is sold in ground or lump form under various names.
Putty chalk (a painter’s auxiliary material) is a type of grey or yellowish-grey chalk. Mixed with resin, varnish and similar materials, it is used as window putty.
Water glass is a colorless mineral binder. It can be diluted with water. Potassium water glass is described in the original text as the best binding agent. It has a strong basic effect and saponifies oils. Therefore, paints dissolved in water glass cannot be used for oil coatings. Not all pigments and fillers can be mixed with water glass. It dissolves glass.
There are several types of glue size. Bone glue has a light yellowish-brown colour and a slightly acidic smell. Hide glue is odourless and brown. Plant-based glues dissolve in water only immediately before binding.
Auxiliary and insulating materials
Soap is used for washing and alum only for insulation. Emfix-kit is used for leveling wall surfaces. It is sold in bottles of 1 kg.
Painting materials and paints are usually sold ready-made, with the necessary information and instructions for use, mixing and thinning stated on the container or packaging, so they are not described separately here. It is enough to mention that paints can be flammable and explosive and that their vapours can be toxic.
Historical examples of painting materials
VOBA and JUBOFLOR - ready-made whitewashing materials in various colours. The colour is mixed with all the necessary ingredients (lime, glue size, etc.). The material is sold in bags as a powder. For whitewashing, only the contents of the bag need to be dissolved in water.
DURLIN - universal varnishes for wood, iron, etc. They are available in various colors. They dry quickly and are of good quality. They are sold in tin boxes.
CARBOLINE - paints for wood and metal. They come with gloss and no gloss. They are sold in tin boxes. They are of good quality.
ZASTAVA - REPARATUR - enamel paint for bodies of all types of motor vehicles.
BALKAN - automotive lacquer sprays. This product can be used for minor paint damage on cars by pressing the spray pump. It comes in several colours.
BONALUX - an imported product for lacquer-painting motor-vehicle bodies.
POLIKOLOR - pastes for tinting varnishes and paints, in nine shades.
Application note: Product names, availability, compositions, properties and recommended uses in this archival text do not necessarily describe today’s products. Current technical and safety data sheets, compatibility with the substrate and the conditions of the specific space are relevant when selecting coatings and pigments.