I've heard of acrylic gold size in passing on the bb. Since we use acrylic paints exclusively in our shop I was wondering how the acrylic gold size would work with that for surface gilding for exterior use.
Does anybody have experience with acrylic size? Does it hold up over time? What is the open window with this size? Which brands are available? Where do I get it?
Thanks in advance...
I'm always up for learning something new in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
[ May 22, 2010, 12:27 PM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
I like them for panel art in the right circumstance. Any I've used are interior use. (wunda, mona-lisa) I've heard of people using the wunda size on bike tanks but they get cleared/sealed.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
There is a water based size and activator called Instacoll that used to be distributed by Sepp Leaf Products, but I've never used it. The size is acrylic and painted on just like any other size (it comes in clear and yellow). After it dries you brush or wipe on an activator and wait a few minutes - then apply the leaf.
It produces a very high shine. It is advertised as being for both interior and exterior use. I got a free sample at a Letterhead gathering about ten years ago, but never tried it.
A call to Sepp would probably answer a lot of questions. 212-683-2840
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...Props to Istacoll! It is an amazing size w. great qualities. It is ready for leaf almost immediately, and on a smooth enough surface, it yields a (near) mirror finish. ...I don't believe that Rick Glawson used for out door stuff. Maybe it's been 'improved' since then.
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
I used Instacoll on some ball post caps about ten years ago and they still look fine.
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
Been using it for 25 years.
It is a water size. It is higly shining
Easy, forgiving(cracks could be gilded without rezising)
Though I do still charge for 2 layers I am mostly done after 1
Works been outdoors in norwegian climate for 20 years, still as new.
Dont aggresivly wash it !!! (weak to abression)
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
hrm working window is
start gilding after 15 minutes, Ivhve gilded a 1 year old spot of size, (as long as your shop isnt to dusty size will not be a problem)
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
If sized object is to newly painted or to glossy the acrylic size that I use( one component, looks like skimmed milk, turns via light blue to transparent in 15 minutes) somehow selfatractcs ( like mercury does)
Good drying time and a good scuff (buff) makes it a lot easier
edited to spell MILK coreccedly
[ May 22, 2010, 03:23 PM: Message edited by: stein Saether ]
Posted by William DeBekker (Member # 3848) on :
That sound real Interesting.. Does it flow out smoothly like oil Size. That seams to be the problem I am having with the Wunda.. Leaves a lot of brush strokes.
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
I think Stein is refering to Wundasize. I have not used it for outdoors. It never hardens, stays rubbery. I have also heard of clearcoating the gild with Wundasize under it but I wonder how clearcoating something that doesn't harden would work. Back to the Instacoll, I haven't used it in a long time. I actually forgot about it but still have some. I remember it flowing pretty smooth for a water based product, probably not as good flowing as oil size. After it's open time is over it can be re-activated with a watery clear liquid activator for many days more if I remember correctly. The one thing that could be a drawback is the gilded finish comes out very shiny, almost like gold plating. Thats why I used it on finials but not on lettering.
[ May 22, 2010, 11:02 PM: Message edited by: Chuck Peterson ]
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
I use the Instacol and find it holds up fine outdoors. It's great for balls and newells and objects that need to be bright. It's too bright for letters, you wouldn't be able to read them they're so bright. The stuff comes from Germany.
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
Lefranc & Bourgeois water size ref 2040
liter bottle 60 US here
info center
L&B BP 337 72007 LeMans Cedex France
Also used both german an italian version, about the same
Posted by Kent Smith (Member # 251) on :
Instacoll now has its own activator and is the only acrylic suitable for exterior use. While the other single component acrylics give an excellent gild, they are not suitable for exterior. Just overcoating with a clear does not ensure durability for the clear breaking down is most likely sooner than later. That is why I do not reccommend using clear over gold except in extreme rough service applications. The downside of the acrylics is as Rick said, the gild is almost too bright for most applications.
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
First oudoor gild with acryl size i did was back in 1988.
It is still as new. It was not cleared
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Why would Instacoll be too bright for surface leaf ... but water gilding on a window isn't?
Just wondering!
Posted by Chuck Peterson (Member # 70) on :
I think sometimes water gilding on a window is too bright. That's probably why matte centers were invented. Just my guess.
Posted by stein Saether (Member # 430) on :
I mostly do the letters in color and use the gold as a "shade"
Real nice, and saves on the gold too
Posted by Doug Bernhardt (Member # 1568) on :
I also have some instacol which I only experimented with once. The gild was to bright for me. On the other hand I saw a job out of Glawson and Evans in copper leaf and is was drop dead beautiful where I would have expected the leaf to be too thick for that method. Slick without seams.
Posted by Doug Bernhardt (Member # 1568) on :
I also have some instacol which I only experimented with once. The gild was to bright for me. On the other hand I saw a job out of Glawson and Evans in copper leaf and is was drop dead beautiful where I would have expected the leaf to be too thick for that method. Slick without seams. I should add that it was exterior and coated with a favourite of his "Frog Juice"
Posted by Alan Johnson (Member # 2513) on :
I've used Wunda size ,BUT I have brush stroke problems. I don't trust it for truck lettering or bike work. Is there any one who uses this for this type of work?
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