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Could someone give me a formula for the gelatin/water ratio or other for glass gilding. I am attempting my first small job for a friend. Thanks, Jack
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Jack, A less clouded gild is obtained starting with distilled water. To a pint of water add 1 1/2 00 caps or if you have those diamond patterned flat sheets, use two. Start with warm water in glass. Add gelatin. let it sit for ten of fifteen minutes until the gelatin softens. Warm it up a bit but never boil. Stir it and most times straining is not necessary.When you complete your gilding and patching, simply drop in a tea bag and re-heat before drinking.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Like Rick, I also like to use distilled water, but I like a little stronger size. I use 2, 00 gelatin capsuls or two flat sheet diamonds to a pint of water. The flat sheet stuff seems to be a little better quality, and dissolves easier. I usually soak the gelatin in a small amout of cold water for about 15 minutes, then heat it until the gelatin has completely dissolved, then add cold water to make a pint. The size doesn't have to be warm when it is applied. When I apply the second gild, I dilute the size to about half strength. If you mix the size too weak, the gold won't adhere very well and if you mix it too strong, it's hard to remove the scrap gold.
If you're doing silver leaf or any composition leaf, you'll want to mix the size about double strength.
Once you mix the size, it's only good for about 4 hours, so don't try to save the stuff. Also store your capsules or sheets in something like an airtight screw top jar, as it tends to absorb moisture out of the air. After it's absorbed moisture and dried out a few times, it kind of goes bad.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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I had never seen the diamonds before - and was told to use 4 of them in a pint. WAY TOO STRONG!. I found 1 1/2 to 2 works just fine. They do dissolve very cleanly, though, I've always used Knox powder and like the diamonds better.
------------------ "If it isn't fun, why do it?" Signmike@aol.com Mike Languein Doctor of Letters BS, MS, PhD ___________________
You know what BS is, MS is More of the Same, and it's Piled Higher and Deeper here
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You can use "up to" 4 diamonds to a pint. I tend to like a little stornger size for the heavier alloys such as 22K and lower. This is because they tend to be more brittle and will lift less during clean up. Using more friction and less moisture will allow clean up of leaf applied with a heavier size.
------------------ Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio Greeley, Colorado, USA kent@smithsignstudio.com
Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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