Durol lettering color is a special color used for coloring writings on monuments, sculptures or gravestones. This lettering color is offered in many different colors. However, lettering colors such as Kölner Dura Letter or Kölner Rapid Stone Mason can also be used as a primer for gilding headstone inscriptions.
How is lettering color used for coloring inscriptions?
For renewing the color coat of an inscription, the Dura Letter lettering color from Kölner or the Durol lettering color are particularly suitable. Both solutions are ready to use, weather resistant and have an extremely high covering power. In addition, both inks are non-chalking and non-yellowing. If you decide to repaint the lettering color, you should wait for dry and mild weather conditions. This will facilitate the application and drying of the paint.
When re-painting the inscriptions, you should plan for two days with one hour of pure working time each. In addition to the Durol lettering ink, the following tools are needed for the renewal of the lettering ink: A bristle brush, brush, rags, a bucket full of water, a blade scraper and a cuttlebone. The procedure is as follows:
1- The preliminary work – cleaning the surface
The first step is to remove old paint residues and dirt on the surface. This is important to be able to ensure adhesion of the new paint. The easiest way to remove the old paint is with a brush in combination with water. If individual paint residues cannot be removed with the brush, however, this is not a big deal for further processing. The stone should then be allowed to dry sufficiently (at least 30 minutes) before the paint is applied.
2- Applying the Durol coloring paint
The writing color is applied to the stone and its inscriptions. For painting out, the paint is filled into the screw cap. About one and a half to two paint lids are needed for painting, as the paint is very productive. The easiest way to paint out the letters is to dab them with a bristle brush, so that they end up well covered by the paint. Be sure to paint out the corners as well. If you are painting a polished stone (such as granite), the paint may also get on the area next to the letters, as the smooth surface of the stone will allow it to be removed once it dries. For rough stones, be sure to apply the paint only to the inscriptions. After the paint is applied, the stone with its inscriptions is left to dry for 24 hours. The processing can be continued the next day.
3- Removal of the paint residues next to the inscription
The third and last step is to remove the paint residues on the surfaces next to the letters. For this purpose, the rag is now dipped in water and then placed over the stone and the painted side so that it is moistened. After 30 minutes, the cloth is removed and placed on the floor underneath the painted surface to collect the old paint residue. Now remove the paint residue very carefully with the help of the blade scraper. Be careful to apply the blade scraper flat and not to exert too much pressure on the stone in the process. You should work especially carefully on the edges of the letters so as not to break off any stone edges from the surface. After removing the excess paint, use the flat side of the cuttlebone to remove the remaining paint residue. A little more pressure can be applied here to ensure that all remnants of paint next to the inscriptions disappear. The remaining streaks on the surface can be removed in the final stroke with the rag and water.
4- How is lettering color used when gilding stones?
If inscriptions are to be gilded, real gold leaf can be used for this purpose, or a metallic gloss paint such as Gold Decor. In the case of the latter, no primer is needed with the Durol lettering color. Before starting with the gilding or the use of the metal gloss varnish, the surface should be cleaned sufficiently, as is also the case when coloring the inscriptions.
In the first step, when gilding with gold leaf, the Durol lettering color is applied as a primer on the stone surface to be gilded in two coats, each with a drying time of 15 minutes. Kölner Rapid is particularly suitable for this purpose. After drying, gilding can then be carried out for up to three days. The length of time depends on the ambient temperature and humidity. The Kölner Rapid can be applied with a brush or sprayed on with a low-pressure spray gun. In this case, the nozzle width should be set to 1 – 1.5 mm.
A similar paint is Kölner Dura Letter which is also for natural and artificial stones.
