Andrey Kolmakov wrote:Hi, Tyler !
I used destilled water and gelatin. Size poured in plastic cup. I heat it in microwave to 40-60 C. I did not wipe the size. I just smear brush on glass. Then i put leafe gold on glass. And wait some time. Then I polish with cotton. I tried to water after application of gold leaf above, but could not get the glue under the leaf.
Ok I think the cup maybe the issue... could be off gassing when heated and polluting the size with plasticizers. I use a stainless coffee cup or a porcelain quart pan and Sterno canned fuel to heat, I place the halved capsule into the water and let them swell and gel for 5 to 10 minutes. Then I heat lightly moving water in cup around till caps are fully dissolved and a little steam rise off surface of water and get some small air bubbles coming up from the bottom of the cup. If you can pick up a stainless cup and some Sterno and go old school heating for your size.
Yeah the hot water flood was a long shot as I did not know how long the leaf had sat. Normally it is done within a short time of laying gold.
Are you doing this flat or with the glass on edge? Cause with the term smearing it kind of suggests flat. Size to my understanding is flooded on above the area your gilding should flow down in a sheet so it wets the glass. And the glass kept wet. I know Smith and White others here make it look SO easy and I'm no master that's for sure. But I feel your frustration as I have been there.
As we speak I have a nine foot sign with 10" gold lettered main copy.. slow sized gilded at whisper tack... dang near dried out. All looked good. But next day, two of the letters developed flat drowned streaks.. don't know why.. humidity spike... heat and a half a hair thicker from over lapping stroke... I guess maybe
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
. Can't just fix those letter as it'll make them richer with a double gild. Can't strip with out ruining background. Can't spin it to hide defect... would not go with business image. So have to re gild all.
Anyway give the old school heating method a try and see if that clears up your gold.