The Framers Forum

Hi,
Concerns over quality.

I wonder if anyone has noticed anything strange about Handover’s general purpose rsg. We bought a 1kg batch recenty (we normally use Robersons). A) The smell was especially stringent, similar to that of an old urinal; B) The water take-up on overnight soaking was considerably less than Roberson’s; C) The batch is more dusty than expected.
So far we can’t comment on its film forming properties or elasticity.

Have you called Hanover's for a replacement batch?

Jerome,
Yes. They are, of course, concerned. They sell a lot of it and haven’t heard anything untoward. However I have confirmed with one friend that the smell is indeed unusual. He is in agreement, he had noticed the unusual smell, so now we are both concerned! (As he darkly commented, ‘perhaps it is Serbian’)
I should add, D) The dissolved Rsg is more transparent than Roberson’s.
Perhaps we are unecessarily concerned?
B.

Hi B

we found the same
stinks doesn't it
and when you cook it up after soaking it smells like it's gone off already
also looks very thin when mixed with water

am looking at other suppliers at the moment
got some from Wrights of Lymm in cheshire
that was pretty good

I too have had a mixed hit and miss experience with RSG from several suppliers.
I now use this stuff -
https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/rabb ... etti-5742/

It has proved to be very clean and reliable.

Like Dermot, I use the Manetti RSG from Gold Leaf Supplies, it was me telling GLS about RSG problems and being unhappy with many brands that they said the Manetti was getting lots of positive comments from users.

I have tried as many brands and sources as I can find and find it's the best so far. Regarding general consistency with RSG this seems to vary enormously, from really powdery to larger granules (which will of course effect mixture ratios) and different colours and smells.

I was told a while ago by one amazing gilder (some of the best I've ever seen) that they have stopped using RSG and now use the concentrated size, also from GLS:

https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/conc ... size-1445/

I use this for bole.

Framemaker Richard wrote:
I use this for bole.

What mixing ratio do you use, Richard?
For the Manetti, I mix 40gm RSG to 660ml water and find this works best.

Hi Dermot,
I use around 1:12 ratio, I vary it a little bit with some boles being really watery and some much drier and solid.

I'll try that ratio. I gave up using it because I kept making too strong a solution and had my gesso splitting on the frames.