Gill - Terebine & Whiting

Gill's Question No.1 What is terebine dryers and gilders whiting? ANSWER Terebine is a liquid oil paint dryer used many years ago when painters and decorators mixed their own paint on the job. It is now added to a gilp mixture (one part raw linseed oil to two parts turpentine or white spirit) when creating marble, wood grain and many broken colour effects. Whiting or chalk dust is used in many ways. For the gilder it is used in two main areas. First it is used to cover the surface of a sign prior to gilding to stop the gold leaf sticking to parts of the sign other than the letters. The whiting is placed onto a clean cotton rag and formed into a bag with the whiting inside, this is known as a pounce. The bag is dabbed or pounced onto the sign prior to applying the gold size and gilding. The particles of chalk are brushed off the surface with a soft brush leaving a fine powder. The fine powder will stop the gold leaf from adhering to the surface. French chalk can be used in place of the whiting. The second is when whiting is used to prepare a glass prior to glass gilding. When glass gilding the glass must be spotlessly clean. The whiting is mixed with methylated spirit and with a rag rubbed over the surface to be gilded. In drying the methylated spirit cleans the grease from the surface and the whiting absorbs it. It is then removed with a clean cotton rag ready for gilding. Fuller's earth  is very often used in place of whiting as it has a high absorbency element. Gill's Question No.2 When doing an effect using oil base, is it better to mix your own using the above or use a brand, also is there a big cost difference? ANSWER To mix up a gilp of your own, as described above, you have more control over the amount of dryer etc. you put into the mixture. Oil based scumbles or clear glazes can be purchased but they can be expensive. When mixing your own you can make just the amount you want leaving no waste. To make up an oil based scumble just add melted bees wax to your gilp.