Toning down moulding

[James Ferguson]

I have recently bought some gold coloured moulding for a customer who says the colour is too strong and needs toning down a bit. My first thought is to try a wash of paint on a sample piece, but wonder about adhesion. Does anyone have any pointers?

Thanks,

James

[prospero]

The problem with factory-finished mouldings is that they usually have a protective coat of something. What that something is you can't always guess. So you are wise to be concerned about adhesion. But you don't really need a heavy coat of paint to take the edge off the bling. I would try a light stroking with 0000 wirewool first. Don't lean on it or you could expose the basecoat. That will matt it down a smidge. If you want it duller, then try a coat of very diluted white emulsion. It will bead up on the surface, but keep working it gently with a soft, dry brush until it is virtually dry.You are aiming to put just a dusty haze on the gold. It will dry light grey.
You could also try using wax with the wirewool and dusting it with rottenstone before the wax dries. Then buff it.

The traditional way of dulling gold leaf is a coat of rabbitskin glue mixed with rottenstone, but if the moulding is covered with a synthetic varnish it might not stick all that well.

[James Ferguson]

That's great thanks. I ended up getting a refund on the moulding as the colour didn't match that in the catalogue. They let me keep the moulding anyway so I'll give it a go.