I have to gild a French clock (cheapie, one of spelta) so nothing special but in my clock restoration i use wire wool to clean the movement parts and wire wool is a no no for a clock movement. To remove the particles I use a very strong magnet in a clear plastic bag trailing all places where particles may drop. I have just done so on a stand for the clock finished in bole and cleaned with wire wool as here you direct. the magnet swept up all traces of particles. held over the bin and removed the magnet all gone into the bin. A suggestion to clean up any residue after hoovering. And, as always, your videos are an absolute wonder. Thank you
Thanks again for this recommendation to learn more about bole. If possible, it would be lovely to get a tour of your shop and projects you have going on and maybe show how different gild looks over different types of colored boles or texture, like plaster or your animal skull. I've never seen anyone really show and compare the luster of gild on different materials or bole colors, along with burnishing and non burnishing. Or if it even makes that much of a difference. Love your videos and the knowledge you share. Not to mention the talent. Your patience and meticulous nature blows me away. Cheers!
@@RuthTappinGilder oh yes ! Just a question if you please, how much time do I weat betwen two layers if bol ? Excuse mi for my bad english speaking! And thank you so much !
@@margueritescrive9188 depends how warm your room is. You will see it change colour from dark to lighter. As little as 10 minutes if warm, an hour if cold.
Hi Ruth, thank you so much for your videos. You’re a great teacher. I’m wondering if I could substitute something for the rabbit skin glue like an acrylic polymer perhaps?
Thanks for watching. The yellow goes under the oil gilding. The pink and black is under the water gilding. The pink and black is specific to English Victorian frames. French frames would have red under the water gilding.
Hi, can you keep the bole and rabbit skin glue mixture for the 2nd and 3rd coats? Or you have to mix fresh everytime? I usually keep rabbit skin glue mixture in the fridge for 3 days after discarding but not sure whether i can do the same with bole. Thanks
@@SLF018 yes, the only time you need to throw it away is when it becomes liquid at room temperature. It should be set until you heat it up or it's starting to smell. I usually keep rsg and bole for around a week in an air tight container in the fridge
Hi Ruth, The reason I was asking about the bole being completely burnished and dry time before applying gold leaf is: On one of your videos where you tried the Instacoll system for first time, you mentioned something about once the base coat is applied and dry, you can let it sit for a long time and when you're ready, just apply the activator and you can apply the gold leaf. I hope you can understand why I am asking about the bole dry time before applying your gold leaf
Instacoll should probably be thought of as a 3rd way of gilding. Different from oil gilding and nothing like water gilding. The bold should be dry before sanding it will go a lighter colour when it drys then back darker when polished.
I love your videos so much Ruth. I'm so glad you're here. Simply the best. Pfft to the rest.❤ I know it's instinct and a glance for you at this point. I'm working my first piece and getting close to the bole stage. I'm so intimidated, that my prep/re-prep/stalling has gone on way too long 😂 How do I know what color bole to apply over the yellow, where and why? Or is there a separate video on that?
Hello! I just opened a container of the Charbonnel Gilder's Clay and found mold/fungus growing on the paper inside the lid. I've thrown the paper out, but should I add some hydrogen peroxide to sit on top of the clay? What would your advice be? Would bole made with this contaminated clay lead to problems down the road?
@@maxlmlllan2604 I wouldn't put anything in the bole. I have one pot that gets mouldy i scrape of the mould and use the bole underneath. I should probably through it away but it's a big pot and cost a lot.
How long can a dry, polished bole surface stay before applying gold leaf and then burnish? If I wait a few days after final bole application and polished with steel wool will that affect how gold leaf is applied and burnished? I'm looking to get a mirror-like gold finish. Thanks
Awesome video Ruth. Thank you. I followed your instructions for bole but when I wet it it doesn’t feel sticky and my leaf slides and moves. What am I doing wrong?
Nothing, thats just water gilding. Try less gilding water, once it's dry the gold sticks. I'm currently filming some online gilding courses where I go into lots of detail about water gilding.
Currently restoring a antique door that I believe is heavily coated in this red bole, stripper isn’t budging it but I am able to get it softened with oderless mineral spirits and a razor blade. What would be the best way to remove it?
Does the bole need rsg? Would it work with just water or no? One of my books says to apply a layer of pure rsg after adding all the bole so would that be sufficient for gilding?
@@williamhuber9639 you need the rsg in the bole. Some gilders don't put rsg in the gilding water so they would need that extra rsg layer. But it wouldn't be instead of in the bole.
Brilliant video Ruth. Learnt a lot from it. Do you not favour the use of TAC rags after abrasion of surfaces? The white you added to the red is also a bole clay?will you be making a film about the antique ing processes you use to blend in areas of work to match existing? I look forward to Sundays knowing you'll have posted another gem 💎 Cheers Mike
Thanks Mike. Not used tack cloth I think because I'm unsure if it would leave something on the surface. Yes the white was bole, there are lots of colours of bole to play with. 😁 Its hard to post every Sunday as the videos take me so long to make which eats into my working week. But the more I do the quicker I should get. R
Can I use transfer leaf for water gilding flat surface same process as loose leaf? and whats the process for applying 2 or 3 layers of gold leaf, would I just use water lacquer on top of first layer of gold leaf. How long should gold leaf dry before applying additional layers? Thanks
You can't use transfer leaf for water gilding just loose leaf. I would wait a few hours before applying a second layer of gold. Some books say to use gelatin instead of rabbit skin glue in the gilding water for any second layer. I've not had a problem using the same gilding water.
Thanks, and how long can the dry, burnished bole sit aside before applying gold leaf and burnish, can it wait a few days and then apply gold leaf and burnish or is there a time window after applying last coat of bole before it's too dry to apply gold leaf? How long after leaf application can I wait before burnishing to mirror-like shine?
The bole should be dry before polishing, that will mean its dry when gilding. I gild the next day but a few days is ok. The gilding water wets the bole. Depends how warm/cold the room is. I can burnish around 4 hours after gilding or the next day is still ok.
@@issaavedra you would oil gild a wall. You don't have to have bole for that. You could just use yellow paint and seal it before putting the oil size on.
Hello..I have a water gilded frame that needs regilding. Do I need to sand all the old gold and bole...or sand down to the bole and start by applying a new bole layer? Thanks for your informative content and help. John Caruana
Hi, John. If the frame is fully water gilded. You can get the gold off with wire wood and methylated spirits. This will leave the bole. I would put a couple on new coats of bole on before re-gilding.
Hello Ruth! Thank you for the excellent video. Is it possible to make one's own bole using extra fine powdered/refined clay and applying it to the rabbit skin glue directly? Also, is the yellow base coat always clay? I've read different information and still confused about this.
Yes you can make bole from dry clay, you need to add some water first to soften it. Yellow is alway bole, the confusion happens because yellow ochre paint can be painted on the outside edge of picture frames. You need bole under the gold especially for water gilding.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks for the answer! If you're oil gilding the yellow bole, you have to first seal it before applying the size if I'm not mistaken?
@@RuthTappinGilder hello again! So I’m trying to make my own bole from dried clay but am wondering about the water / powder ratio in terms of weight? Have you ever noticed a difference between the quality of premade bole and one that you make yourself? :-)
Yes you can but you may need to grind it with a muller on a slad of glass to get it very smooth. The only time you wouldn't use bole is on something like metal which isn't porous, then you can use paint. But you can only oil gild paint.
Hi Ruth, truly great videos. have you ever worked with dry clay cones? It's been a struggle for me to create fine mixtures using dry cones with a mortar and pestle. not much info online with processing by hand! even after stacking 3 or 4 fine mess strainers together, I'm still left with gritty bits. I know some gilders use rock tumblers with ceramic marbles and will leave it running for days.
That's the reason I use wet bole even though it cost more. I was going to recommend a tumbler as that's what I understand they use to get it v smooth. Think there will be a problem with bole soon. The dry stuff has shot up in price. Selhamin has stopped making bole 😮. I now can't find a nice yellow. The Kölner bole I'm having to try is not a great colour and smells of ammonia 🙄
because I only use a few grams at a time I thought using dry would be perfect but I did not expect how difficult it actually was! I also admittedly wanted to go that route because I felt I'd be more connected to the medium. I'd love to learn which parts of the world different color clays come from as well as how it's collected and processed, both traditional and in the modern day! Unfortunate to hear about Selhamin! especially considering that they were providing a quality product. many were heartbroken when Pelikan stopped producing Casein paint. that seems to be the reality with such a neiche craft!
@@manuelaugustodacosta6413 do you follow Charles Douglas on Instagram? instagram.com/gildingstudio?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= He has a class on bole and uses the dry cones. He puts his tumbler on for 3 days then keeps the wet clay in a jar. Then just uses what he needs. As it's not got the rsg in it keeps. The wet bole I buy keeps for years as long as it's air tight. They stopped mining the mineral brown bole colour in Canada a few years ago. It was a great base colour for Regency bole colour. Now it takes 5 colours to make. 🙄
A question, is it possible to paint the base (after layers of gesso) with say a redish mat water based paint, wire wool down then paint over a layer of rabbit skin glue 12/1, let it dry then when you gild just wet the rabbit skin glue layer to activate it ? I want to gild an old dressing table mirror I bought 47 years ago, it's mahogany and I am stripping it back and sanding for the moment. It will go into a bathroom. Thank you
I have water gilded on to 12-1 RSG as part of a test panel for the gilding classes. About 40% of the gold came off/didn't stick. You may have to layer up the RSG. Think you will need to do some tests you won't be able to burnish the gilding as that needs the clay in the bold. You could just oil gild, as you can oil gild almost any surface as long as it's sealed.
@@RuthTappinGilder I was just telling my cousin who is an artist that I had asked you about the gilding without bole as I am trying to get him to integrate some gilding into his paintings. I said that you were so good at sharing and you always answered queries and here you are ! THANK YOU. Not everyone takes the time. Ok I listened to your advice and put my miser side aside and ordered red bole and rabbit skin glue and the brushes and of course the gold leaf (not gold). I don't really need another project as my house is full of ongoing ones but I am looking forward to this one and thanks to you I feel confident. I do want to water gild as I love the metalic effect and the 'joins' that show up over red bole. I have some polished semi precious stones that I will try burnishing with as I didn't order the right tool, next month! Many years ago I 'silvered' a large mirror frame (can't remember how I did it) and I still have it, never got round to puting in the glass but it has tarnished over time to a lovely shade of sort of pewter. Many hugs to our favorite gilder ! xoxo
The thicker leaf is nice to work with. The mirror finish comes with the prep of the gesso and bole. They have to be sanded and polished so there are no brush strokes or sanding scratches. The better the finish of the bole the better the burnish.
You want yellow under the oil gilding and lots of layers under the water gilding. So it's just easier to start with 2 layers of yellow. I would then use 4 layers of red so a total of 6 layers for the water gilding on French frames. I think American frames also use red.
I saw in another video that 1-the mixing should be made at low velocity 2- avoid metal contact with the solutions, using a spoon of plastic and a brush without metal tip.
@@paintstorm1 You can't buy gesso for gilding onto. The rabbit skin glue goes off after about a week in the fridge. So you have to make your own, it's very simple. Have a look at my how to make gesso video. You can't use acrylic gesso for gilding.
I have to tell you how much I've learned from you Miss Ruth. Please continue making content like this. Your vidoe are wonderful. I could watch them for hours.@@RuthTappinGilder
Hi Ruth, thank you so much for this video. Just a question about the strength of the rabbit skin glue. Is it 12 parts water to 1 part rabbit skin glue granules? Or 12 parts water to 1 part full strength made-up glue?
Hi Ruth, Hope you are well. Quick question what are the possible cause for orange peel on bole? I’m relearning gilding in a different country different materials and such but I never seen it before. I used LeFranc wet clay. Mix looks nice and smooth when it’s brushed on turns orange peel ish. Not sure where did I make a mistake. Many thanks
It's happened to me. It's the rabbit skin glue. Most of what you can buy is a replacement animal skin glue not real rabbit skin glue. I now just buy Cornelissen's rabbit skin glue. www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/rabbit-skin-glue-5737/ This works well. I used up the one that did the orange peel on gesso as it didn't mater as it gets sanded.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks for the reply. That’s interesting because I bought the exact same from goldleaf sup. I followed your instructions ratios and monitor the water temperature. Gesso went on fine. And bole on bole turns out strange. I buffed it with wire wool and put down another coat pretty thick I would say it looks much better but not as even and smooth like yours.
@@RuthTappinGilder It all helps will try to add alcohol if it fails I’ll make another batch. Actually one more thing, I ordered 500g yellow and red Lefranc clay from Wrights of Lymm It came in a generic white tub and yellow is more like orange definitely not yellow. Is that how it supposed to be? Thanks for taking the time! Hope the instruction video recording is going well. Looking forward to sign up! ;)
@@zuzda85 I use that "yellow" as my orange bole. Unfortunately most of the bole companies have stopped, so not much choice left. Soon Kolner will be the only one and their bole has ammonia in 🤷♀️
The temperature of the room determines how long, a few minutes to an hour. You will see the bole drys lighter. Once that happens you can do the next coat.
English Victorian bole colours are yellow then pink then black. Other time periods have different colours. Other country's have different bole colours like the French frames are Red. Hope that helps.
Hi Ruth! I'm so happy to have found your yt chan. Been watching your segments on the Restorers show for some time. I've got just a quick question: What strength rsg do you use for bole? Cheers, Thomas🙂 Ps. I might get in touch regarding a gilding class/one-on-one tutoring opportunities...
Will using the same gold leaf with the various bole colors produce a different end resulting colors? Beyond geographical traditions, is there any significance to the color of the bole?
You start to see the differences as you age the gold as the colour comes through. The reds and oranges look good under the gold as it gives the gold a warm look.
Thanks, didn't know that was a thing. My wire wool doesn't, it will rust if left wet. And thinking about it any oil may transfer onto the bole which would be bad.
steel wool made by Liberon is said to be higher quality and contains no oil where as typical steel wool found in box stores will have oil. Hopes this helps!
On frames usually all the high points and leading edges are water gilded. The background will be oil gilded, this is the yellow. I learnt by having to paint strip so many mirror. The bole isn't removed by the paint stripper so you can easily see what is water gilded and what is oil gilded.
@@villiamaugust I measure out the glue granules in a small container then use the same container to measure out the water. It would be the same as measuring out flour for a cake using a cup like the Americans do.
Hey Ruth, I'm getting some lovely colours of bole but when I go to polish it with 0000 steel wool it turns grey, everytime! I'm using the same make as you. Why is this happening? Also is there any chance you could do a video on the application of metal leaf on flat surfaces? Mine keeps wrinkling.
Thats just the how metal leaf is. If you're water gilding use smaller pieces. If oil gilding transfer should be better then loose leaf I'll be making some teaching videos this year on full restoration and some separate in depth how to make/use bole and gesso.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thank you. I'll just do smaller pieces I'm really enjoy the process of the water gilding (Ha it's teaching me a bit of patience 😁) . Think I'm getting to grips with the gesso and bole, and got some more steel wire, which seems to be better. Apparently they put an oil on the steel wire to stop it rusting, which if there is too much on it turns everything dark grey. I'll look forward to new videos, there seems to be several recipes depending on what your doing. And thanks again for your input.
These are the colours of English Victorian frames. Countries have different colours. French and American is red, Italian is orange ect. Also to be more complicated English frames have changed colours over time. Regency frames are a light purple. R
@@RuthTappinGilder Hi Ruth, to expand on Mary's question, will you be using yellow gold leaf (ie 22ct or higher) over top of all three colours of bole, or will each colour of bole have a different shade/carat of gold on top? Why is black bole better to burnish the gild on? Thanks!
@@venetianstudios5171 I always use 23.75ct gold leaf for water gilding then 23.5ct for oil gilding. The black is just because it's an English Victorian frame, they are always yellow, pink and black. If it had been French I would have used yellow and red, Italian yellow and orange ect.
@@silviomagro2722 hi, mainly cost. You can't really tell the difference between 24ct and 23.75 colour wise. But there is a price difference. So works out better for my customers.
So because of the rabbit skin glue in it it will go off. So keep it in the fridge, in an air tight container. It should last a week or so. If it smells through it away and make some more
@@RuthTappinGilder thanks Ruth. With the small "hobbiest" size of the work I'm doing, I seem to waste materials. On the plus side I've mastered your method of removing loose leaves from book to pad 🎉🎉🎉
I learned eating sushi and mixing in soy sauce with with wasabi, you want less glue to mix in with clay and it dissolves quicker then you add more glue or soy sauce.
I have to gild a French clock (cheapie, one of spelta) so nothing special but in my clock restoration i use wire wool to clean the movement parts and wire wool is a no no for a clock movement. To remove the particles I use a very strong magnet in a clear plastic bag trailing all places where particles may drop. I have just done so on a stand for the clock finished in bole and cleaned with wire wool as here you direct. the magnet swept up all traces of particles. held over the bin and removed the magnet all gone into the bin. A suggestion to clean up any residue after hoovering. And, as always, your videos are an absolute wonder. Thank you
Thanks again for this recommendation to learn more about bole. If possible, it would be lovely to get a tour of your shop and projects you have going on and maybe show how different gild looks over different types of colored boles or texture, like plaster or your animal skull. I've never seen anyone really show and compare the luster of gild on different materials or bole colors, along with burnishing and non burnishing. Or if it even makes that much of a difference. Love your videos and the knowledge you share. Not to mention the talent. Your patience and meticulous nature blows me away. Cheers!
Thank you 😊
Ruth, a Very thank you! I learnt so mucho only watching this video, lindo regards from Brazil, thank you!
Another great video. Totally invaluable info. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much! I am begining to lurn and you save my life !
Hope you enjoy learning to gild 😊
@@RuthTappinGilder oh yes ! Just a question if you please, how much time do I weat betwen two layers if bol ? Excuse mi for my bad english speaking! And thank you so much !
@@RuthTappinGilder And how long before sanding ?
@@margueritescrive9188 depends how warm your room is. You will see it change colour from dark to lighter. As little as 10 minutes if warm, an hour if cold.
@@RuthTappinGilder thank you ! I am si glad to discover you !
Great video. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise.
Hi Ruth, thank you so much for your videos. You’re a great teacher. I’m wondering if I could substitute something for the rabbit skin glue like an acrylic polymer perhaps?
Sorry bole needs the rabbit skin glue. That's what makes the gold stick.
I’ll get the glue then! Thanks!
Fantastic and thankyou for your time. Why do you only use pink and black on some parts and not all over like the yellow?
Thanks for watching. The yellow goes under the oil gilding. The pink and black is under the water gilding. The pink and black is specific to English Victorian frames. French frames would have red under the water gilding.
Ah, I see. Thankyou.:)
Hi, can you keep the bole and rabbit skin glue mixture for the 2nd and 3rd coats? Or you have to mix fresh everytime? I usually keep rabbit skin glue mixture in the fridge for 3 days after discarding but not sure whether i can do the same with bole. Thanks
@@SLF018 yes, the only time you need to throw it away is when it becomes liquid at room temperature. It should be set until you heat it up or it's starting to smell. I usually keep rsg and bole for around a week in an air tight container in the fridge
Is the bole in the container just watered down molding clay🤔?
@@authentic4225 the clay used for bole is refined fine clay the particles are very small.
Hi Ruth,
The reason I was asking about the bole being completely burnished and dry time before applying gold leaf is: On one of your videos where you tried the Instacoll system for first time, you mentioned something about once the base coat is applied and dry, you can let it sit for a long time and when you're ready, just apply the activator and you can apply the gold leaf. I hope you can understand why I am asking about the bole dry time before applying your gold leaf
Instacoll should probably be thought of as a 3rd way of gilding. Different from oil gilding and nothing like water gilding.
The bold should be dry before sanding it will go a lighter colour when it drys then back darker when polished.
I love your videos so much Ruth. I'm so glad you're here. Simply the best. Pfft to the rest.❤
I know it's instinct and a glance for you at this point.
I'm working my first piece and getting close to the bole stage.
I'm so intimidated, that my prep/re-prep/stalling has gone on way too long 😂
How do I know what color bole to apply over the yellow, where and why?
Or is there a separate video on that?
Por favor donde puedo comprar el bol, vivo en Venezuela 🙏
Hello! I just opened a container of the Charbonnel Gilder's Clay and found mold/fungus growing on the paper inside the lid. I've thrown the paper out, but should I add some hydrogen peroxide to sit on top of the clay? What would your advice be? Would bole made with this contaminated clay lead to problems down the road?
@@maxlmlllan2604 I wouldn't put anything in the bole. I have one pot that gets mouldy i scrape of the mould and use the bole underneath. I should probably through it away but it's a big pot and cost a lot.
Thank you for the reply! I will just be careful and keep an eye on it then!
How long can a dry, polished bole surface stay before applying gold leaf and then burnish? If I wait a few days after final bole application and polished with steel wool will that affect how gold leaf is applied and burnished? I'm looking to get a mirror-like gold finish. Thanks
I normally gild the next day, but a few days shouldn't affect the burnish.
Awesome video Ruth. Thank you. I followed your instructions for bole but when I wet it it doesn’t feel sticky and my leaf slides and moves. What am I doing wrong?
Nothing, thats just water gilding. Try less gilding water, once it's dry the gold sticks.
I'm currently filming some online gilding courses where I go into lots of detail about water gilding.
Thanks for your reply! I look forward to your courses. Do you have any videos that highlight the differences between oil and water gilding?
@@ARTDETAILS I do both water gilding and oil gilding on this video th-cam.com/video/tpGNYcg0USk/w-d-xo.html
Currently restoring a antique door that I believe is heavily coated in this red bole, stripper isn’t budging it but I am able to get it softened with oderless mineral spirits and a razor blade.
What would be the best way to remove it?
If it is bole warm water and wire wool or meaths. Or sanding 😬
Does the bole need rsg? Would it work with just water or no? One of my books says to apply a layer of pure rsg after adding all the bole so would that be sufficient for gilding?
@@williamhuber9639 you need the rsg in the bole. Some gilders don't put rsg in the gilding water so they would need that extra rsg layer. But it wouldn't be instead of in the bole.
Hi Ruth!!! I am wondering how long can this bole last until it's starts lossing it's power and also should I put it in the freegt after the use?
Lasts about a week in the fridge. If it smells and is runny at room temperature through it away.
Lovely to see Luna at the end of this video. Silly question but what is bole actually for?
The clay in tbe bole meens you can burnish the water gilding and to give a colour under the gold.
Brilliant video Ruth. Learnt a lot from it. Do you not favour the use of TAC rags after abrasion of surfaces? The white you added to the red is also a bole clay?will you be making a film about the antique ing processes you use to blend in areas of work to match existing? I look forward to Sundays knowing you'll have posted another gem 💎
Cheers Mike
Thanks Mike. Not used tack cloth I think because I'm unsure if it would leave something on the surface. Yes the white was bole, there are lots of colours of bole to play with. 😁
Its hard to post every Sunday as the videos take me so long to make which eats into my working week. But the more I do the quicker I should get. R
See your point about tac clothes. Fine for decorating but this is another level. Have a good week.
Cheers Mike 👽
Can I use transfer leaf for water gilding flat surface same process as loose leaf? and whats the process for applying 2 or 3 layers of gold leaf, would I just use water lacquer on top of first layer of gold leaf. How long should gold leaf dry before applying additional layers? Thanks
You can't use transfer leaf for water gilding just loose leaf. I would wait a few hours before applying a second layer of gold. Some books say to use gelatin instead of rabbit skin glue in the gilding water for any second layer. I've not had a problem using the same gilding water.
Thanks, and how long can the dry, burnished bole sit aside before applying gold leaf and burnish, can it wait a few days and then apply gold leaf and burnish or is there a time window after applying last coat of bole before it's too dry to apply gold leaf? How long after leaf application can I wait before burnishing to mirror-like shine?
The bole should be dry before polishing, that will mean its dry when gilding. I gild the next day but a few days is ok. The gilding water wets the bole.
Depends how warm/cold the room is. I can burnish around 4 hours after gilding or the next day is still ok.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks so much
Can you use the bole over a wall painted with acrylics? I want to guild a mural and I don't know how to apply the gold to the wall.
@@issaavedra you would oil gild a wall. You don't have to have bole for that. You could just use yellow paint and seal it before putting the oil size on.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thank you for your response!
Hello..I have a water gilded frame that needs regilding. Do I need to sand all the old gold and bole...or sand down to the bole and start by applying a new bole layer? Thanks for your informative content and help. John Caruana
Hi, John.
If the frame is fully water gilded. You can get the gold off with wire wood and methylated spirits. This will leave the bole. I would put a couple on new coats of bole on before re-gilding.
Thanks for the prompt reply...will do.
Hello Ruth! Thank you for the excellent video. Is it possible to make one's own bole using extra fine powdered/refined clay and applying it to the rabbit skin glue directly? Also, is the yellow base coat always clay? I've read different information and still confused about this.
Yes you can make bole from dry clay, you need to add some water first to soften it. Yellow is alway bole, the confusion happens because yellow ochre paint can be painted on the outside edge of picture frames. You need bole under the gold especially for water gilding.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks for the answer! If you're oil gilding the yellow bole, you have to first seal it before applying the size if I'm not mistaken?
@@m.m.375 yes that's right.
@@RuthTappinGilder hello again! So I’m trying to make my own bole from dried clay but am wondering about the water / powder ratio in terms of weight? Have you ever noticed a difference between the quality of premade bole and one that you make yourself? :-)
Yes you can but you may need to grind it with a muller on a slad of glass to get it very smooth. The only time you wouldn't use bole is on something like metal which isn't porous, then you can use paint. But you can only oil gild paint.
Hi Ruth, truly great videos. have you ever worked with dry clay cones? It's been a struggle for me to create fine mixtures using dry cones with a mortar and pestle. not much info online with processing by hand! even after stacking 3 or 4 fine mess strainers together, I'm still left with gritty bits. I know some gilders use rock tumblers with ceramic marbles and will leave it running for days.
That's the reason I use wet bole even though it cost more. I was going to recommend a tumbler as that's what I understand they use to get it v smooth. Think there will be a problem with bole soon. The dry stuff has shot up in price. Selhamin has stopped making bole 😮. I now can't find a nice yellow. The Kölner bole I'm having to try is not a great colour and smells of ammonia 🙄
because I only use a few grams at a time I thought using dry would be perfect but I did not expect how difficult it actually was! I also admittedly wanted to go that route because I felt I'd be more connected to the medium. I'd love to learn which parts of the world different color clays come from as well as how it's collected and processed, both traditional and in the modern day! Unfortunate to hear about Selhamin! especially considering that they were providing a quality product. many were heartbroken when Pelikan stopped producing Casein paint. that seems to be the reality with such a neiche craft!
@@manuelaugustodacosta6413 do you follow Charles Douglas on Instagram? instagram.com/gildingstudio?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
He has a class on bole and uses the dry cones. He puts his tumbler on for 3 days then keeps the wet clay in a jar. Then just uses what he needs. As it's not got the rsg in it keeps. The wet bole I buy keeps for years as long as it's air tight.
They stopped mining the mineral brown bole colour in Canada a few years ago. It was a great base colour for Regency bole colour. Now it takes 5 colours to make. 🙄
A question, is it possible to paint the base (after layers of gesso) with say a redish mat water based paint, wire wool down then paint over a layer of rabbit skin glue 12/1, let it dry then when you gild just wet the rabbit skin glue layer to activate it ? I want to gild an old dressing table mirror I bought 47 years ago, it's mahogany and I am stripping it back and sanding for the moment. It will go into a bathroom. Thank you
I have water gilded on to 12-1 RSG as part of a test panel for the gilding classes. About 40% of the gold came off/didn't stick. You may have to layer up the RSG. Think you will need to do some tests you won't be able to burnish the gilding as that needs the clay in the bold. You could just oil gild, as you can oil gild almost any surface as long as it's sealed.
@@RuthTappinGilder I was just telling my cousin who is an artist that I had asked you about the gilding without bole as I am trying to get him to integrate some gilding into his paintings. I said that you were so good at sharing and you always answered queries and here you are ! THANK YOU. Not everyone takes the time. Ok I listened to your advice and put my miser side aside and ordered red bole and rabbit skin glue and the brushes and of course the gold leaf (not gold). I don't really need another project as my house is full of ongoing ones but I am looking forward to this one and thanks to you I feel confident. I do want to water gild as I love the metalic effect and the 'joins' that show up over red bole. I have some polished semi precious stones that I will try burnishing with as I didn't order the right tool, next month! Many years ago I 'silvered' a large mirror frame (can't remember how I did it) and I still have it, never got round to puting in the glass but it has tarnished over time to a lovely shade of sort of pewter. Many hugs to our favorite gilder ! xoxo
Also, would you recommend a thick gold leaf or double/triple gold, as apposed to 2 or 3 layers of gold leaf for mirror-like finish?
The thicker leaf is nice to work with. The mirror finish comes with the prep of the gesso and bole. They have to be sanded and polished so there are no brush strokes or sanding scratches. The better the finish of the bole the better the burnish.
Holy crap. To see you just winging it on the proportions 😅 amazing lady you are.
😁 just a long time doing this job!
I am in love with water gilding. When I am old enough to retire I would love to work at your shop for free.
@@barneylongacre8123 😁
Hi Ruth! Is it necessary to use yellow bole as a base layer, followed with red bole or can red bole only be used?
You want yellow under the oil gilding and lots of layers under the water gilding. So it's just easier to start with 2 layers of yellow. I would then use 4 layers of red so a total of 6 layers for the water gilding on French frames. I think American frames also use red.
Hi Ruth! Do you have tips to avoid bubbles in the bole?
Thanks a lot
It could be from too much heat when warming the bole up. Or it's it's in the bole on the frame it could be coming from pin holes in the gesso.
adding a few drops of pure alcohol will help break the surface tension. you can also strain the mixture again.
I saw in another video that 1-the mixing should be made at low velocity
2- avoid metal contact with the solutions, using a spoon of plastic and a brush without metal tip.
Hi Ruth, I am wondering what sort of paint should I use over bole? For frame making.
Mist paints should be able to "stick' to bole.
@@RuthTappinGilder thank you very much!
IS the gesso used for gilding the same as the gesso used for under painting of oil paints?
Gesso for canvasses is flexible and acrylic based. Traditionally gesso is used on solid surfaces like wood. Its made from rabbit skin glue.
is it just called gilding gesso? im having trouble locating it in the US
@@paintstorm1 You can't buy gesso for gilding onto. The rabbit skin glue goes off after about a week in the fridge. So you have to make your own, it's very simple. Have a look at my how to make gesso video. You can't use acrylic gesso for gilding.
I have to tell you how much I've learned from you Miss Ruth. Please continue making content like this. Your vidoe are wonderful. I could watch them for hours.@@RuthTappinGilder
@@paintstorm1 😊
Hi Ruth, thank you so much for this video. Just a question about the strength of the rabbit skin glue. Is it 12 parts water to 1 part rabbit skin glue granules? Or 12 parts water to 1 part full strength made-up glue?
Thanks 😊.
The one part is the dry rabbit skin glue granules (not made up)
Hi Ruth,
Hope you are well. Quick question what are the possible cause for orange peel on bole? I’m relearning gilding in a different country different materials and such but I never seen it before. I used LeFranc wet clay. Mix looks nice and smooth when it’s brushed on turns orange peel ish. Not sure where did I make a mistake.
Many thanks
It's happened to me. It's the rabbit skin glue. Most of what you can buy is a replacement animal skin glue not real rabbit skin glue. I now just buy Cornelissen's rabbit skin glue. www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/rabbit-skin-glue-5737/
This works well. I used up the one that did the orange peel on gesso as it didn't mater as it gets sanded.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks for the reply. That’s interesting because I bought the exact same from goldleaf sup. I followed your instructions ratios and monitor the water temperature. Gesso went on fine. And bole on bole turns out strange. I buffed it with wire wool and put down another coat pretty thick I would say it looks much better but not as even and smooth like yours.
@@zuzda85 ok not sure whats going on. It should go on thin. You could try a 13-1 rsg or with a very small bit of alcohol in. Sorry not much help.
@@RuthTappinGilder It all helps will try to add alcohol if it fails I’ll make another batch. Actually one more thing, I ordered 500g yellow and red Lefranc clay from Wrights of Lymm It came in a generic white tub and yellow is more like orange definitely not yellow. Is that how it supposed to be? Thanks for taking the time!
Hope the instruction video recording is going well. Looking forward to sign up! ;)
@@zuzda85 I use that "yellow" as my orange bole. Unfortunately most of the bole companies have stopped, so not much choice left. Soon Kolner will be the only one and their bole has ammonia in 🤷♀️
How long do you wait between coats of bole?
The temperature of the room determines how long, a few minutes to an hour. You will see the bole drys lighter. Once that happens you can do the next coat.
Dear Ruth, thank you so much for the super fast and helpful reply.@@RuthTappinGilder
Ah! Bole 🎉
Hi, what is the purpose of the different colors? why does it have to be pink? Why not leave it’s original red color?
English Victorian bole colours are yellow then pink then black. Other time periods have different colours. Other country's have different bole colours like the French frames are Red. Hope that helps.
so one can take normal clay and add rabbit skin glue?
Never tried that, it would need refining a lot and you would probably end up with a brown bole colour.
Hi Ruth! I'm so happy to have found your yt chan. Been watching your segments on the Restorers show for some time. I've got just a quick question: What strength rsg do you use for bole? Cheers, Thomas🙂 Ps. I might get in touch regarding a gilding class/one-on-one tutoring opportunities...
12-1 😁
Will using the same gold leaf with the various bole colors produce a different end resulting colors? Beyond geographical traditions, is there any significance to the color of the bole?
You start to see the differences as you age the gold as the colour comes through. The reds and oranges look good under the gold as it gives the gold a warm look.
@@RuthTappinGilder thank you, so much!
Hello Ruth. Love your videos. Doesn’t wire wool contain oil to prevent from rusting?
Thanks, didn't know that was a thing. My wire wool doesn't, it will rust if left wet. And thinking about it any oil may transfer onto the bole which would be bad.
@@RuthTappinGilder I totally agree. I use a piece of Hessian rag. Gives a nice buffed surface and ready for gilding 👍
steel wool made by Liberon is said to be higher quality and contains no oil where as typical steel wool found in box stores will have oil. Hopes this helps!
@@mannydacosta4597 much appreciated. Thank you. 👍🏻
❣
How do you determine what stays yellow?
On frames usually all the high points and leading edges are water gilded. The background will be oil gilded, this is the yellow. I learnt by having to paint strip so many mirror. The bole isn't removed by the paint stripper so you can easily see what is water gilded and what is oil gilded.
Just a quick question on the glue concentration itself just so I am absolutely sure. Is that 12:1 water to granules by volume or weight? Thank you.
Volume 😁
@@RuthTappinGilder Thanks Ruth, I thought it was but wanted to be sure. Great channel by the way and your presentation is spot on!
In which country is solid measured in volume?
@@villiamaugust I measure out the glue granules in a small container then use the same container to measure out the water. It would be the same as measuring out flour for a cake using a cup like the Americans do.
I understand you, where I live is solid always as grams, and only liquid as volume... Have a nice day.
Hey Ruth, I'm getting some lovely colours of bole but when I go to polish it with 0000 steel wool it turns grey, everytime! I'm using the same make as you. Why is this happening? Also is there any chance you could do a video on the application of metal leaf on flat surfaces? Mine keeps wrinkling.
Thats just the how metal leaf is. If you're water gilding use smaller pieces. If oil gilding transfer should be better then loose leaf
I'll be making some teaching videos this year on full restoration and some separate in depth how to make/use bole and gesso.
@@RuthTappinGilder Thank you. I'll just do smaller pieces I'm really enjoy the process of the water gilding (Ha it's teaching me a bit of patience 😁) . Think I'm getting to grips with the gesso and bole, and got some more steel wire, which seems to be better. Apparently they put an oil on the steel wire to stop it rusting, which if there is too much on it turns everything dark grey. I'll look forward to new videos, there seems to be several recipes depending on what your doing. And thanks again for your input.
Hi Ruth, would you please tell me why you use three colours under your gilding. Thank you.
These are the colours of English Victorian frames. Countries have different colours. French and American is red, Italian is orange ect.
Also to be more complicated English frames have changed colours over time. Regency frames are a light purple. R
@@RuthTappinGilder Hi Ruth, to expand on Mary's question, will you be using yellow gold leaf (ie 22ct or higher) over top of all three colours of bole, or will each colour of bole have a different shade/carat of gold on top? Why is black bole better to burnish the gild on? Thanks!
@@venetianstudios5171 I always use 23.75ct gold leaf for water gilding then 23.5ct for oil gilding. The black is just because it's an English Victorian frame, they are always yellow, pink and black. If it had been French I would have used yellow and red, Italian yellow and orange ect.
hi Ruth
why not use 24crt?
thanks for the info
@@silviomagro2722 hi, mainly cost. You can't really tell the difference between 24ct and 23.75 colour wise. But there is a price difference. So works out better for my customers.
Can the made up bole be stored after use? 🤔 👽
So because of the rabbit skin glue in it it will go off. So keep it in the fridge, in an air tight container. It should last a week or so. If it smells through it away and make some more
@@RuthTappinGilder thanks Ruth. With the small "hobbiest" size of the work I'm doing, I seem to waste materials. On the plus side I've mastered your method of removing loose leaves from book to pad 🎉🎉🎉
@@michaelflint4159 well done, took me ages. I end up throwing stuff away even with using it every day.
6:16 i see u 🐕
I learned eating sushi and mixing in soy sauce with with wasabi, you want less glue to mix in with clay and it dissolves quicker then you add more glue or soy sauce.
Puppy!!!
😁 Luna, doing well for 14 and a half! 🐶