Water-based Gilding vs Oil-based Gilding

Traditional water gilding is ideal for indoor wood, plaster, or frames when you want a shiny, mirror-like finish.

1. Surface Preparation: This is the foundation of the process.
2. Apply Gesso: Mix rabbit skin glue with gilder’s whiting (calcium carbonate). Brush on 4 to 6 thin coats of warm gesso onto bare wood or plaster, allowing each coat to dry completely.
3. Sand: Smooth the dried gesso with fine sandpaper.
4. Applying the Bole (Clay Base): Prepare the bole by mixing Classic Poliment (clay) with diluted rabbit-skin glue.
5. Apply two or three coats of smooth clay bole. This provides a flexible base for burnishing and imparts a warm undertone to the gold, typically in red, yellow, or black.
6. Once the clay is dry, polish it with a stiff-bristled brush or fine 0000 Steel Wool until the surface is very smooth.
7. 1. Laying the Gold Leaf: Prepare the gilder’s water by mixing water with a few drops of high-proof alcohol, such as isopropyl or grain alcohol, to wet the surface. Alternatively, use gel-form rabbit skin glue, which is easy to make, or pre-made Colnafix Gilders Size.
8. Use a soft brush to apply the gilding liquor to a small area of the clay just for the leaf you are about to place.
9. Apply the gold leaf using a gilder’s tip. Rub the tip against your hair or use the gilding tip balm cream to create static, then use it to pick up the loose gold leaf. Carefully place the leaf onto the wet area. The water will secure the leaf in place immediately.
10. Burnishing (Shining): Wait four to twenty-four hours, depending on room humidity. The clay should be dry enough not to tear, but still retain enough moisture to compress. Use the gilders’ agate Stone burnisher to bring the gold into a mirror-like finish.

Modern Water Gilding Using KGGG System Fond

KGGG-System Fond, a Gesso Bole one-layer gilder’s clay, offers a range of benefits that make it the ideal choice for your gilding needs. It replaces the Gesso and Bole layers of the Traditional Water System, simplifying the process and reducing the effort required. This water-based burnishable gesso primer for gold, silver, and composition leaf is versatile and easy to use, making it perfect for creating water-gilded and burnished frames, interior architectural elements, and furniture ornaments. With KGGG-System Fond, you can achieve a traditional look with confidence and less effort. Continue reading..

Oil-based size gilding

Oil-based size is recommended for outdoor items, metals, stone, or intricate carvings that don’t require burnishing.

1. Surface Preparation: Ensure the item is properly primed and sealed. Skipping this step allows oil-based paint to penetrate porous materials such as raw wood or plaster. Apply shellac, primer, or lacquer to seal the surface.
2. Apply the Gold Size: Apply a thin, even layer of Otari Oil-based gold size, ensuring no puddles form in crevices.
3. Wait for the “tack” stage: Oil sizes have different open times, such as 3, 12, or 24 hours. Apply the next step once the surface transitions from wet to tacky.
4. The Knuckle Test: Gently touch the surface with the back of your knuckle. It should feel like sticky tape without leaving residue or appearing wet. If it leaves a fingerprint, it is too wet. If it feels dry, the optimal window has passed.
5. Laying the Leaf
: Apply the gold leaf by placing loose leaf, or transfer or patent leaf for flat surfaces, directly onto the tacky size.
6. Use a gilder’s mop brush to gently press the leaf into detailed areas, then brush away any excess loose pieces, called “skewings.”
7. Do not burnish oil-gilded items with an agate stone, as this can damage the oil layer. Instead, use Instacoll Tissue to gently polish the gilded area. Allow the item to cure completely for several days before handling. The gilding technique outlined above is a brief summary.

Quick Tips:

1. Use yellow bole to conceal any areas where the gold leaf has not adhered properly.
2. Place the pot of wet rabbit Skin Glue/Gesso in hot water, not exceeding 50° C. An electric stove with temperature control is ideal.
3. Filter the solution through a fine mesh, such as nylon stockings, to remove lumps and impurities.
4. Apply each layer of the gesso wet-on-wet, without allowing the previous layer to dry completely.
5. Add warm water as needed to keep the bole and size mixture from thickening, so it brushes on smoothly. Stir slowly when diluting to prevent bubbles.
6. Before applying gold leaf, brush the fully dried bole surface with firm, even pressure to ensure complete coverage. This compresses the base and gives the bole a porcelain-like shine.
7. To determine when to begin gilding, use the “knock test.” Gently tap the gilded surface with an agate burnisher. If the tone is lighter than immediately after applying the gold leaf, test a small edge area. If it’s ready, burnish the entire surface.
8. Burnishing is difficult if the underlying surface is completely dry.