Gold Size adhesives types list

Gold Size adhesives

Gold Size adhesives, adheres Gold Leaf. Buy what Pro Gilders use Oil, Water and Alcohol gold size. where to buy gold-size? Here where the professionals get their gold size.
Always make test samples to know your products behaviors and to have samples for future customers or for reference.

Gold Size-Oil based Gold Leaf adhesives

Gold Size-Oil based, used for attaching Gold and Silver leaf when gilding surfaces such as Glass, Wood and Metal. Oil based Gold Size produces a satin glow which is visible up to 90 percent of the time. Gold Size-Oil based nowadays comes in a variety of dry and setup times. Fast gold sizes produce a dull satin gild, while the slower the gold size is, the brighter the gild results are. Slow Gold Size stay "Open-tacky" longer and you will have a longer period of time attach gold or silver leaf.

Gold Sizes dry times results vary based on temperature and humidity

Quick Rubbing Varnish: very fast 5-15 min set-up tack time
Japan or Venice Gold Size: very fast 15-30 min set-up tack time
1 hr. Fast Gold Size: very fast 30-1 hour set-up tack time
3 hr. Medium or Commercial Gold Size: very fast 3-4 hour set-up tack time
12 hr. Slow Gold Size: very fast 30-1 hour set-up tack time
24 hr. Slowest-Pure Fat Oil: 24-48 hour set-up tack time

Gilders used to mix their own chemicals for gilding and with gold size they started with Fat Oil made by rendering down animal fats in a low heat, then stored typically on a roof over the Summer too thicken, stirring the fat a couple of times a month over 3-6 months. Pure Fat Oil mixed with varnish made from damar pitch(resin) and wood grain alcohol or turpentine(thinners-reducers) to speed up dry time and to add strength-flexibility. Do not confuse strength-flexibility with longevity, pure fat oil size has the great durability over time and is why it is used for capital Domes and Statues where the public won't touch. Gold Size with a greater volume-amount of varnish is considered faster. Fast Gold Size is made to dry faster to get the job done in a rush or to be ready (closed-size) sooner for clear coat finishing.

Gold Size-Water based Gold Leaf adhesives

Gold Size-Water based, used for attaching Gold and Silver leaf when gilding smooth surfaces such as Glass of Enameled Wood and Metal. Water based Gold Size produces a Mirror finish which is visible 10-20 percent of the time unless illuminated by lights directly. Some Water based Gold Sizes such Gelatin

Gold Sizes dry times results vary based on temperature and humidity

Diamond grade Gelatin: mainly used for Reverse Glass gilding. Least likely to leave "snail Trails" or what are Gelatin veins-fissures.
Industrial grade Gelatin Capsules: Lowest Grade, mainly used for Reverse Glass gilding. More likely to leave "snail Trails" or what are Gelatin veins-fissures.
Rabbit Hide Glue

Gold Size-Alcohol-Water based

Clay Bole Red, Ocher or Gray, are Clay Pigments blended with powdered Rabbit skin glue, some also containing powdered shellac. Bole is painted onto surface, then when dry, may be activated by applying "Gilders Liquor" a 50-50 mix of water and alcohol to active the rabbit skin glue in the mix with the water and the alcohol to activate the shellac, the clay pigments act as a primer-filler in rough cut areas of texture while the clay color provide a colored under-base in case of cracks or flaws in your gild. Once activated, the bole will be ready for gold leaf, if the bole . If it dries out, simply wet again and continue to gild until finished. Now dust off scewings or scrap dust and you end up with a satin finish or you may take the next step with a smooth stone Agate Burnisher and polish down all of the gild to end up with a bright chrome-like finish.

Gold Size-Alcohol based

Instacoll Gold Size-Alcohol based, a two-part gold size system for exterior gold leaf gilding and interior leafing with gold, silver, and composition leaf. A super-shine or mirror gloss finish is achieved without agate burnishing. After Instacol has dried completely, apply the Activator to the area ready for gilding. Let dry and apply the leaf. Reactivate as necessary. The ultimate mirror gloss is obtained when gilding on a completely smooth surface with genuine gold patent leaf. may be discontinued.

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