Instacoll Gilding Size HA, 48hr, For Gilding With Genuine Gold Leaf on Any Surface, Indoor/outdoor, High Gloss Finish

Instacoll System HA consists of 2 components: Component 1 is the Base HA and Component 2 is the Activator HA. Instacoll is a gilding size (adhesive) for all types of metal leafs but for indoors/outdoors. The size is applied with a Fine Synthetic Brush. After the size (base layer) has dried—which can last up to 1 hour—it is possible to gild for at least 48 hour without using the Activator. For a longer-lasting or later gilding, the surface can be reactivated with the Instacoll Activator if you are gilding a large object.

The Instacoll HA is the perfect gilding size for a sizeable gilding project. Apply the Instacoll size everywhere, leave it for a few hours to become sticky, and then start gilding without warring about the size to dry. You have at least 2-3 days to finish gilding before the stickiness fades away

Instacoll colour variation

You can use any colour regardless of what you are gilding; however, the variation in colour provides a smaller finish effect:

• Instacoll Grey is specially developed for the gilding with silver and palladium leafs.
• Instacoll Yellow size works with gold leafs to give that bright and shiny finish
• Instacoll Clear size has no effects on the finish.
• Instacoll Red is for achieving warm antique gilded work when gilding with gold and silver leaf.

Gilding on wood: A suitable wood primer or Sealer P must be used first for untreated wood.

Gilding on stone or plaster: Apply one coat of a diluted mix of 9 parts Instacoll Base to 1 part water. Allow about 40 minutes to dry. Then, apply a normal coat of Instacoll Base Size.

Gilding on metal: This is a delicate gilding job. Before applying Instacoll, the surface must be well prepared to protect the metal leaf and avoid corrosion. Use a suitable metal primer and apply two coats. If your metal is outdoors, apply two coats of suitable high-gloss paint. Never apply Instacoll Base on powder coating; always use a primer.

Gilding on glass: You can use Instacoll Base Size (clear) on glass, but this can only be done for the interior.

Preparing the surface

1. The surface must be dry and free from dust and grease. It must also be machined to be weather-resistant without gilding.
2. Apply one or two layers of Instacoll size to cover the surface well.
3. Let Instacoll dry completely (at least 1h) if you use Transfer Gold Leaf, which is best when gilding without the gesso application. However, if you are using Loose Gold Leaf, apply the gold leaf while the Instacoll is still wet.
4. Apply the Activator (after Instacoll dried) with a Gilder’s Brush for Size Application and let it dry (5-10 min).
5. Press down the gold leafs and brush with Gilder’s Soft Wool Brush For Transfer Leaf Application to press down the gold leaf.
6. Peel off the transfer paper, gently press down the gold leaf with the Instacoll Tissue once more and brush off the redundant gold using the Gilder’s Mob/Duster. Polish the gold with the Instacoll Tissue carefully.
7. Gilding time is unlimited, so if you are gilding a large project, you can re-use the Activator to reactivate the Instacoll adhesive and continue gilding, even months later.
8. The gilded product can immediately be exposed to not-too-extreme weather conditions.

Recommended reading: 

High performance Interior and Exterior Gilding with Instacoll System.

How to gild with the Instacoll System Base Size and the Activator