Chips etc

[strokebloke]

I've got a moulding, not unlike Lion's Napoli (L012), from my supplier.
It is a reversed mould with a deep rebate for canvas in distressed gold with a dark green showing through in the trough.
The finish is applied to pine.
I find that it chips very easily. Only quite minutely - but it does detract from the finished appearance.
And only on the bottom corner of the back.
Can anyone recommend a product/material/substance to repair the chips with.
What is wax paste?
Would that do it?

I thought it might be the result of my Morso blades not being sharp enough, but putting newly sharpened ones in made no difference.

Also, small areas of the gold peels off in places as I'm handling it. Mostly on the round bead edge. Is this normal with distressed moulds?

Any help will be much appreciated.

[Jonny2morsos]

If it is the moulding I am thinking of then Liberon Gilt Cream, Chantilly shade will help. Apply it to the faulty bit let it dry overnight and buff up.

The metal leaf that tends to peel off the inside of the rebate can be a pain. I keep a clean stiff bristled paintbrush handy which I use to brush away all the flaky bits before assembling.

[Roboframer]

Amongst other things like 'goldfinger' and Liberon wax sticks, I've got a set of this stuff which caters for most problems like this.

For mouldings that are pain with loose foil in the rebate, I give them a vigorous brushing and then paint with diluted wood glue, it dries quite quickly.

[strokebloke]

Thank you, both Johns.
I shall have to sort myself out some repair/defect/wax/cream kit together.
It's something of a relief to know that such things happen to experienced framers too. An that it may not be my ineptitude.
The ironic thing is, that coming from a bench joinery background, it is the finishing and the quality of the frame that I am struggling with at the moment.
I really enjoy doing mounts - and the more intricate the better.
I suspect that it is probably a 'mind-thing'.
I'll get some kit and persevere. I'm hoping to go to Mark's hand-finishing seminar in Sept (or whenever). That may help.

Once more, your advice and directives are much appreciated.

[markw]

It sometimes helps to put some masking tape or similar on to the moulding at the pint where you are going to cut - This can just offer enough support to the finish to keep the cut clean. Downside of this is that the delicate finishes are also prone to being damaged by the tape - catch 22..... worth keeping a range of gold and coloured waxes to repair not so perfect cuts. a light wood filler stained with acrylic paint can also be used for those finishes that need a finer match.

[strokebloke]

worth keeping a range of gold and coloured waxes to repair not so perfect cuts. a light wood filler stained with acrylic paint can also be used for those finishes that need a finer match

I think this is the way for me to go Mark. Thank you. Generally, I am pleased with the cuts that I get from the Morso
I think that my deficiency is in knowing how and what to apply to rectify small defects, which it appears, may be common to to all.
I feel a Lion catalogue moment coming on

[prospero]

Liberon Gilt Cream is good stuff. If you get two jars of a colour, leave one with the lid off for a while and it will go quite hard. In this state you can mould it into lumps to fill chips. In it's fresh condition it is more useful for smoothing on scuffs and blending corners.

If it gets too hard you can revive it by adding a touch of white spirit and stabbing it with a sharp instrument. With a bit of practice you can make a jar that is hard on one side and runny on the other.

A useful thing to have about the workshop is a set of artist's encaustic carving tools. I picked one up one day for a couple of quid. There are about ten double ended tools with a variety of points. (similar thing to what you see at the dentists. ). Great for applying fillers and general poking about.

[strokebloke]

Great Peter, thanks.
Some of those sorts of tools I already have: for woodturning/carving.
Gilt Cream is definitely going to go on the order.
I'll try my supplier first, for everything. If they don't stock it, they will order from Lion, for me.