I am gilding 6x6 planks of basswood, flat, using dutch gold/oil based size. Sanding, de-waxed shellac, then gesso, sanding inbetween, etc. The results are reasonable for my purposes except: I get these artifacts - see pictures - a couple on every plank. Can you help me figure out what causes this? For now I work around these, but would really like not to have any.
Follow up on gilding question...
- Thread starter MikeM
- Start date
Vintage Frames
True Grumbler
First thing to ask - could these be machine marks on the timber? If you run your finger over them, do they feel like small indentations.?
If instead the marks are on the smooth surface of the gilding, then there might be a fault on the gesso perhaps.
It would help a lot if you were to describe the preparations in more detail.
If instead the marks are on the smooth surface of the gilding, then there might be a fault on the gesso perhaps.
It would help a lot if you were to describe the preparations in more detail.
That looks like unburnished skewings on a fault (break) of the main surface layer of metal leaf. The cause is two levels of leaf vs a single layer causing this optical appearance. A little more rubbing with a cotton ball might help. The cause is that 2 layers reflect light differently than a single layer.
Vintage Frames
True Grumbler
Could be indeed.
This is definitely 1 layer of leaf. I use transfer leaf (yeah, I know but it is SO much easier for a beginner).
This is the process. I sand the wood - with 600 (it comes pretty smooth already so lower grit is not needed). Apply Zinsser Sealcoat shellac - twice, again sanding with 600 in between. Apply black gesso (right now am using Art Supply but switching to Golden in a few days) - 3-4 coats, sanding in between. Final coat - another shellac, sand to 1200.
Then Dux oil-based size. Wait 1.5 hours. then I open up the transfer leaf page and apply the whole board to it from the top (the board is a little smaller than the leaf so it works out perfectly). Press down all over. Wait a little. Turn over and peel the transfer paper away. Wait 5-6 hours, Then burnish it with cotton ball. That's when the artifacts come out in a couple of places.
This is the process. I sand the wood - with 600 (it comes pretty smooth already so lower grit is not needed). Apply Zinsser Sealcoat shellac - twice, again sanding with 600 in between. Apply black gesso (right now am using Art Supply but switching to Golden in a few days) - 3-4 coats, sanding in between. Final coat - another shellac, sand to 1200.
Then Dux oil-based size. Wait 1.5 hours. then I open up the transfer leaf page and apply the whole board to it from the top (the board is a little smaller than the leaf so it works out perfectly). Press down all over. Wait a little. Turn over and peel the transfer paper away. Wait 5-6 hours, Then burnish it with cotton ball. That's when the artifacts come out in a couple of places.
Vintage Frames
True Grumbler
Well, you are doing all the right things. And as soon as you see the gilding looking better, then all the little imperfections get amplified. As you already know, metal leaf and even more so gold leaf will copy and accentuate even the smallest blemish on the surface to be gilded.
That's why, to use the old trope, it's preparation, preparation, preparation.
Since it's not a surface blemish on the timber, it's probably something on the gesso layer.
Because you have chosen to use artificial gesso, the range of repairs are a bit limited.
First of all, you don't need to apply a coat of Zinsser sealer.
Just paint on the gesso straight onto the timber.
And don't bother to sand between coats - just get it on as thick and SMOOTHLY as possible. Maybe dilute the gesso a little bit with some water to make it more workable.
Letting it dry off a bit between coats will help.
The next bit is the important bit.
Sand the gesso FLAT with a coarse grit of about 120grit. This is just to create a perfectly flat surface. The next grits which will be higher, are simply to remove the coarse grit scratches and then move to a finer polished surface.
And remember what I said on my previous reply, move up the grits inside multiples of x2.
So its 120 to 180 to 320 to 600.
As you are using a plastic acrylic gesso, you perhaps don't need to seal the surface - but I would.
Paint on a thin coat of French polish/ shellac. Dilute it 50/50 with methylated spirits/ alcohol.
Now go ahead and apply the oil gold size. You mention using a 1 hour size. Move to a 3 hour size for better results.
Remember to paint it on first, then pull as much off as you can using a cotton cloth and paintbrush.
Leave any sort of wet puddle or excess oil behind and that will show through on the gild.
In fact that maybe the source of those strange marks.
Good luck with it all. You will get there in the end.
That's why, to use the old trope, it's preparation, preparation, preparation.
Since it's not a surface blemish on the timber, it's probably something on the gesso layer.
Because you have chosen to use artificial gesso, the range of repairs are a bit limited.
First of all, you don't need to apply a coat of Zinsser sealer.
Just paint on the gesso straight onto the timber.
And don't bother to sand between coats - just get it on as thick and SMOOTHLY as possible. Maybe dilute the gesso a little bit with some water to make it more workable.
Letting it dry off a bit between coats will help.
The next bit is the important bit.
Sand the gesso FLAT with a coarse grit of about 120grit. This is just to create a perfectly flat surface. The next grits which will be higher, are simply to remove the coarse grit scratches and then move to a finer polished surface.
And remember what I said on my previous reply, move up the grits inside multiples of x2.
So its 120 to 180 to 320 to 600.
As you are using a plastic acrylic gesso, you perhaps don't need to seal the surface - but I would.
Paint on a thin coat of French polish/ shellac. Dilute it 50/50 with methylated spirits/ alcohol.
Now go ahead and apply the oil gold size. You mention using a 1 hour size. Move to a 3 hour size for better results.
Remember to paint it on first, then pull as much off as you can using a cotton cloth and paintbrush.
Leave any sort of wet puddle or excess oil behind and that will show through on the gild.
In fact that maybe the source of those strange marks.
Good luck with it all. You will get there in the end.