Kölner Permacoll For Imitation Gold and Silver Leaf Gilding

Kölner Permacoll Size is a permanent acrylic-based adhesive for indoor gilding. It has more adhesive power than Instacoll and is particularly suitable for gilding with imitation gold (composition metal leaf), aluminum, or silver leaf. This high-quality adhesive shines with all imitation gold or silver leaf. With the red Kölner Permacoll Size, poliment (bole) gilding can also be easily imitated. It is also suitable for matt gilding with genuine gold leaf.

Kölner Permacoll Size offers far more flexibility than oil sizes with their long drying times and short working times.

Kölner Permacoll Size dries within 15 to 30 minutes, depending upon the thickness and porosity of the surface.

Metal leaf can be applied hours or even days later.

Kölner Permacoll Size is designed to achieve decorative metallic surfaces that are not exposed to the weather or excessive wear. Kölner Permacoll Size is not burnishable.

Kölner Permacoll Size is recommended as an adhesive for metal leaf on all non-porous surfaces, smooth or textured. Its uses include preparing frames, decorating sets for theater, film, and window displays, and making architectural ornaments.

Porous surfaces such as plaster, stucco, wood, and wood composites should be

• Coated with Kölner Sealer 123-A, thinned 2:1 or 1:1 with water, or use Kölner Sealer P.
• After Kölner Sealer 123-A is dry, apply Kölner Permacoll Size unthinned with a soft brush.

Non-porous or slightly porous surfaces that are dust and grease-free, such as painted or lacquered wood or plastics, can be covered immediately with Kölner Permacoll Size. If Permacoll Size beads up, as may occur on some plastics, add a drop of wetting agent to the size to alleviate the problem.

After the surface has dried—recognizable by a uniform sheen and saturated (darkened) appearance of the substrate—any metal leaf can be applied. Areas that appear mat or dull after drying should receive a second coat of Permacoll Size before proceeding.

Once the metal leaf has been applied in the usual way, the surface should be rubbed lightly with cotton (be careful with genuine gold leaf !).

Craquelure Effects with Kölner Permacoll Size

• Apply a generous coat of Kölner Permacoll Size with a soft brush in one direction.

• After drying, apply patent gold leaf, composition metal leaf, or silver leaf and rub the surface with a cotton ball in one direction.

• Brush a 50% solution of yellow dextrin in water over the gilded surface. Add a drop of wetting agent to the dextrin solution to prevent it from beading up.

• The dextrin layer will start to crack upon drying. The widths of the cracks depend on the thickness of the layer and the speed of drying. Accelerated drying or a thicker layer creates wider cracks over the gilded surface.

• Dextrin may be washed away but generally does not have to be removed. You may enhance the appearance of cracks by rubbing oil paint in a contrasting color.

• It is possible to protect the gilded area with acrylic varnish (not a water-based acrylic varnish, as this will dissolve and lift the dextrin layer underneath).