Question Question: Can you gild directly onto Wood?

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Woodworks by John

Woodworks by John

CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Joined
Jul 4, 2000
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Loc
North Las Vegas, NV
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Retired, work from home shop
The latest PFM had a section on Whistler frames and mentioned that they would gild directly onto the wood to allow the grain to show and soften the gold. This intrigued me even though it didn't go into any details and I want to give it a shot. I've already created a test piece out of some scrap Beech, shot it with a couple of coats of red tinted shellac. Here's the question, I'm thinking I should mix up some gelatin (30 grams to 3 oz. distilled water) and apply a couple of layers to the piece. Then just use gilders liquor and gild as usual. It seems to make sense to me -- anyone care to weigh in with opinions or thoughts??
 
I`ve done it....Then again I never check to see if what I`m doing is "kosher" per se...I make up stuff as I go along.(Detail of a punchwork rim on a wooden plate,Wood was punchwork detailed, then given a thin coat of acrylic...then gilded directly on that, and then antiqued heavily with the same acrylic)) L.
 

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It can be as simple as laying an acrylic size directly on the wood and your ready to go in a few minutes. I've put it on mahogany and the wood grain if very visible.
 
Another Question?

I could go either oil or water gilded but was leaning towards the precious as it's thinner -- undercolor would show more? I've seen a recipe for gilders liquor where you add some gelatin to it, would that be sufficient?
 
On oak, I have mixed a thin mix of water and RSG... and painted two coats.
The first to seal, and the second to leave a coat. You could put a universal tint
in the second for that red under tone.

Then wet and guild. Allow about an hour or two, and burnish lightly with the aggie.

What you are doing is actually burnishing the wood underneath, but it will never be quiet like burnishing bole.

I guess if you really thinned some bole out . . . hummm to late tonight..... :D
 
Sample in Progress

So far, so good. I'll post a picture on this thread when I finish the sample piece. As of now I just completed gilding it and will follow Baer's direction by waiting a couple of hours and then burnish. My hopes are that by rubbing it back tomorrow with some rottenstone the red tinted woodgrain will show through -- keeping my fingers crossed!
 
Photos of Sample Piece

I've completed the sample molding and here are the images. For images 3 & 4 I decided to put a painting in it to help show how it could look. The process I followed was to first spray (air brush) two coats of shellac onto the molding that I tinted with Mixol #4 which is an oxide red. Next were two coats of rabbit skin glue, about a 10% mix. I let that dry for a couple of hours then gilded with 22 Kt., wish I could get my gilding technique better as I seem to always get my tip wet. Wishing won't get it but practice will -- any hints from you experts out there?
In any case, after burnishing I used rottenstone and my finger to bring it back. This is the hard part for me because as a furniture maker I strive for a flawless, smooth finish which isn't what you're always after with frame finishes. My wife likes it as do I, the combination of the red oxide and blond wood gave a pinkish hue to the piece. I can imagine using a purple undertone too. This is done on European steamed Beech which has very little grain. In looking at Whistler frames he probably used a wood like Oak for a more grainy appearance.
That's it, hope you like it and maybe give it a try.





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Try this

Jeff, I clicked on each one separately, it came up then I used the back arrow to return and select another. Let me know if that works, if not I'll repost
 
Here's what I get when I click. I don't see thumbnails but rather links that say Attachment

Invalid Attachment specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator
 
Second Attempt for Images

Jeff, hopefully this time it will work. The format looks better since I see the thumbnails on the preview.
 

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Very nice. The grain is rather tight on the Beech so other woods will give you more of the grain showing that you are looking for.
 
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