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Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Mon 04 Mar, 2019 7:55 pm
by GeoSpectrum
Does anyone have an experience using this system? Is it an alternative to making up
RSG gesso? I’m keen to start teaching myself gilding.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 10:56 am
by vintage frames
I've never used it but here are my thoughts. For most gilding you will need a smooth ivory like surface and that's what this stuff purports to do. All you need do is open the can, paint on at least three coats, let dry and sand back with grades of sand-paper. Looking at an average of 500ml for most gilding jobs, then that quantity will have cost around £48 or so. And of course you will have learnt - nothing!
If you make up the same quantity of RSG gesso then the materials cost is about 90p. As you aleady spray paints, then you can easily revert to spraying the gesso. There really is a lot of guff talked about RSG gesso and it's application, maybe to frighten the amateurs off. If you can run a business, boil an egg, then making gesso is a sinch. Post again if you want to know more.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 12:14 pm
by GeoSpectrum
Thanks for the reply. good point about the cost
I hadn’t looked at that yet. One question regarding sorayingvgesso
I used to use an aluminium HVLP gun for paint but
Found it a real pain to keep clean and now use a plastic gun which is OK (ish) for paint by probably not for gesso. Is gesso easier to clean off equipment?
As I may get a gun just for gesso.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 12:38 pm
by vintage frames
A plastic or metal gun makes no difference. To clean the gun, boil a kettle and run that through the gun for a minute or so. Maybe a cheap gun for gesso might be a good idea. Gesso won't interfere with any paint in the gun but paint will interfere with the gesso.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 12:45 pm
by Not your average framer
I bought a jar of their bole and it had a big lump of bole surrounded with fluid, for the money it cost I expected better. On ocassions that I have needed gesso, I have mostly made it myself using industrial gelatine and whiting, I have used RSG a couple of times, but the industrial gelatine is in very small flakes and takes very little time from start to finish to prepare and use.

I can't remember the name of the company who supplied the industrial gelatine, but they also supply ingredients for making soap and supply colophany resin, which is useful for making wood pasta ornamentation, or compo. I don't carry out repairs using these materials very often as most of my repair jobs are not of sufficient value and customers don't want to pay very much, hence I use more modern methods and material to be able to work quickly.

It's not that I am against using traditional materials, I leave that choice to the customer. However most customers don't want to pay any more than they have to.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 1:23 pm
by GeoSpectrum
All very interesting thanks. I’m going to investigate the industrial
Gelatine and have a go at making and spraying some RSG gesso.

I’ll report back...

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Tue 05 Mar, 2019 2:14 pm
by vintage frames
WHOA! Why on earth would anyone want to use industrial gelatine to make gesso. Sorry Mark, but that is a bit bizarre. I'm not saying it won't work but let's try to keep things simple and straight foward. Remember others are listening in. Buy this RSG from -
https://www.goldleafsupplies.co.uk/rabb ... etti-5742/
I found it gives the best results so far. These people also supply the whiting. You'll need 1kg RSG and 2.5kg whiting.
The other things on your shopping list will be a double boiler -
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ancillary-Rang ... 7T7E94W4VS
a home-brew type thermometer and a small electric hob. Oh, and a sieve also.
Come back when you've got them all.

Re: Kolner Gesso-Bole system

Posted: Wed 06 Mar, 2019 8:29 am
by GeoSpectrum
That's for the help Vintage. I've ordered a double boiler and thermometer. I have the rest.....