This guide is meant to give a basic overview of the gilding process for a beginner that is just starting out learning to gild. Gilding with water-based adhesives should not be confused with traditional “water gilded” methods. Water-based methods produce a punishable gilded surface and will be the subject of a later guide. Water-based size not suitable for external gildings, and water-based adhesive is not suitable to use on internal and external surfaces.
How to Apply Gold Leaf
This technique can be used for any gilding project, such as Easter eggs. Coat the eggs with size and set them gently onto a foam pinboard for drying. Let set until the size is tacky, following manufacturer’s instructions (about 20 minutes) Rub a thin gilder’s tip brush on your hair or a sweater to create static. Drape one gold sheet over the egg and smooth it with your fingers. Brush off any extra flakes with a soft, natural-fiber paintbrush to even out the texture.
1 – Prepare And Prime The Surfaces
Lightly sand the surface to be gilded and apply a suitable primer for the surface. The surface must be non-porous so the gilding “size” will soak into the substrate. The color paint or clay used to prime the surface will determine the overall appearance of the finished product as it acts as an undertone to the gold or silver leaf. For example, a red color beneath gold will give a warm rich finish and a grey or blue tone beneath silver will give an even cooler finish to the silver finish.
Wood for gilding
Gold is used over the top of red and yellow clay grounds, but gilders mostly use it to create signs on glass. The goal is to use the gilding entirely as the finish. Gold is applied over surfaces they have properly prepared and finished with the red or yellow ground. With proper safety precautions, use of particulate dust filters rated for MDF, the woodworking experience can still be safe and enjoyable. To gild picture frames, use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for turning around picture frames.
