The multi-purpose cotton ball is used to gently polish gilded surfaces, particularly in curved areas and deep indentations. Its soft texture allows the cotton ball to conform to uneven surfaces, ensuring that the gold leaf is pressed down onto the adhesive and remains well adhered. The cotton yarn is approximately the size of an orange.
Old-school gilders prefer using cotton yarn to release the gold from the tissue paper instead of a brush; the cotton is very soft and more affordable.
