Home › Gilding, Silvering, Etc › Oil Size for Gilding

Oil Size for Gilding

Grind calcined red ochre with the best and oldest drying oil, and mix with it a little oil of turpentine when used. When the work is to be gilded, first give it a coat of parchment size; then apply the above size where requisite, either in patterns or letters, and let it remain, till, by touching it with the finger, it feels just sticky; then apply the gold leaf, and dab it on with a piece of cotton; in about an hour wash off the superfluous gold with sponge and water, and when dry, varnish it with copal varnish.