Kölner Revisol For Gilding Freshly Varnished Painted Surfaces

Kölner Revisol is a great tool for gilding freshly varnished/painted surfaces that still offer some adhesion for gold leaf. As a gilder, it can be frustrating that gold leaf remains in places where it is not intended; Kölner Revisol prevents this.

How to apply Kölner Revisol

• Coat the surface with a thin layer of Revisol and allow to dry. Then, the adhesive is applied to the parts that need to be gilded. Most adhesives, such as Olmixtion, Instacoll, and Signcoll, adhere well to the surface through the thin layer of Revisol.
• After the gilding has dried, the Revisol can be washed away with a soft, wet (water) cloth. Gold leaf outside the gilded areas is stuck to the layer of Revisol and can be easily removed.

If you are working with stencils or a stencil film, you can work as follows:

• Coat the surface with a thin layer of Revisol. Let dry. Paste your Stencil.
• Wash away the layer of Revisol where the surface is visible in the stencil. These parts may be sanded slightly (Scotchbrite) when using Signcoll or Instacoll. Do not sand with Oil Mixtion.
• Paint the stencil with the adhesive for the gold leaf. Carefully remove the stencil before the adhesive dries.
• Apply the gold leaf and let it dry.
• Then, carefully wash away the Revisol. The lines of the gilding will be sharply defined on the surface. Always test the method first in a trial.

Success depends on several factors and requires skill and experience.