DIY Gilding Cushion? Which Leather? Etc.?

[Foresty_Forest]

I'm considering making my own gilding cushion. I've never actually seen one, is a piece of suede from Ebay all I need? Does it need any packing under the leather? Would a chamois leather work? Any other tips?

Thanks

[vintage frames]

You could make your own gilder's cushion. It's basically a soft brushed calf-skin leather stretched tight over a small wooden board. The leather is padded with something like woolen blanket material. Most gilder's cushions come with a parchment wind shield and some leather tabs to hold the knife and user's hand.

You mention using chamois leather - in theory I suppose it would work. But why would you bother with all that?

You can buy a basic gilder's cushion for less than £20 from Gold Leaf Supplies. They have them at prices well over that but there's no basic working advantage to buying the more expensive version.

What is more important is buying the best quality stainless steel knife.

[spoink47]

I'm considering making my own gilding cushion. I've never actually seen one, is a piece of suede from Ebay all I need? Does it need any packing under the leather? Would a chamois leather work? Any other tips?

Thanks

hi there,
I wanna do one as well. Have you managed to do it eventually?

[Not your average framer]

£20 for a properly produced gilding cushion is a good deal! Suppose that you make your own and while you are trying to use it you are not getting the right results. What's wrong, your technique, or a problem with a home made cushion? How will you know? You will be already send the proper price for the gold leaf and other materials, why take chances of wasting your material with a potentially not perfect guilders cushion. What £20 in the sceme of things when you are paying the full price for every thing else?

Could this be a case of pennies wise and pounds foolish. When you are trying to produce the finest quality gold leaf finish, which customers are going to be paying top moneyy for why are you wanting to be potentially compromising, when you can have the real thing for a little as £20? By the time you've made your own what have you saved?

[JFeig]

Just about any soft, flexible leather can be used so long as it is the "split side" up. Yes, I have the one I made 30 years ago.

[OldSchool]

This video is useful for those folks who want to make their own gilder’s cushion. I have all the components, so thought I’d give it a go.

[Timh]

It would be a fun project to do but the time saved in buying one from gold leaf supplies is money well spent in my honest opinion.Steve has some good stuff on there for budding gilders.