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Decorating Defects - their cause and cure

Cissing

This defect is chiefly encountered with varnish, and further information will be found in the section HERE dealing with these materials.
It also occurs, however, in the application of paint and enamel; the latter instead of spreading out smoothly under the brush in a continuous film, gathers itself together in circular blobs immediately it has been put on.
The cause is usually tension between the surface and the finish, owing to the fact that the former is too glossy or hard, or, alternatively, to the presence of grease or damp.
It may be due to the fact that too long an interval has been allowed to elapse before following on with the finish.
The remedy, in the latter event, is to rub down with pumice and water or other suitable abrasive before painting.
If a painted or varnished surface which is to be refinished shows any tendency to ciss, the fault can often be remedied by going over the coating with a cloth or pad dipped in fine sifted whiting or fuller's earth. Care should be taken to leather off thoroughly in order that no particles of either of these substances are left on the surface.