The range on the market to finish your creative projects with golden or metallic shades is almost incalculable. Nowadays there are so many products that you could easily lose your way in them. Are you also unsure whether you should finish your furniture with pigments or with a patina? Or do you think a metallic paste would be the better option? Don't worry, we will show you around this complicated maze thanks to the guide below! We are happy to explain the difference between gilding wax, patinas, (metallic) pastes, pigments and metal leaf, so that you can make the right choice for every project.
1. Gilding wax
If you like a gilded look, but find the use of gold leaf a bit too exciting, gilding wax is the ideal solution. After all, applying gilding wax is super easy.
First you paint your furniture in the desired color. You let it dry and apply clear wax. The final step is to apply gilding wax. All you need to apply the gilding wax is a lint-free cloth, a small brush or just your fingers.
You can use different gilding wax colors above and next to each other. A common use in wood carving is to use a darker gold in the recesses, and a lighter gold on the raised areas. This creates a three-dimensional look.
Gilding wax is an excellent product to accentuate ornate carvings and mouldings. You can use it on furniture, but also on other decorative items such as a lamp base or photo frame.
2. Posh Chalk Patinas
The Posh Chalk Patinas are available in two variants:
- Artisan Oil Based Patinas (available in a more traditional color range)
- Water-based Aqua Patinas (available in a much bolder boho color palette)
Both types of Patinas are very highly pigmented and are mainly used to bring out the details in your projects. They are ideal for accentuating delicate carvings or WoodUbend mouldings.
The rule of thumb with Posh Chalk Patinas is that a very little goes a long way. In other words, you really need surprisingly little for a great effect. The easiest method to apply the Patina is with the tip of your finger. Sometimes using a small brush can also be useful.
Patinas are intended for highlighting, not for painting an entire wall. The product works very well on a wide variety of surfaces, including metal, wood, plaster, cardboard and glass.
The Patinas are suitable for outdoor projects. Once hardened, they are weather resistant.
The curing process differs depending on the surface to which you apply the Patinas. On average, you have to take seven days of curing time into account for both the Aqua and the Artisan series.
Below we will discuss in more detail the specific characteristics of oil-based patinas on the one hand and water-based patinas on the other.
2.1 Posh Chalk Oil-based Patinas
The oil-based Posh Chalk Patinas can be similar to gilding wax in terms of creating a metallic sheen and accents on surfaces. Both products can provide a similar visual effect, but there are some key differences between them.
Posh Chalk Oil-based Patinas are paint products that create an aged, oxidized or weathered effect on surfaces. They contain special pigments and are oil-based, which means they take longer to dry and adhere to the surface. These patinas are usually applied with a brush or sponge and can be smudged or buffed to achieve the desired effect. They are used to give objects a lived-in look and can be applied to various materials.
Gilding wax, on the other hand, is a paste-like product that is applied to surfaces to create a metallic shine and accents. Gilding wax is usually based on wax or another binding agent and contains metal pigments, such as gold, silver, copper or bronze. It is applied with a brush, cloth or sponge and then rubbed or buffed to achieve a glossy effect. Gilding wax is primarily used for decorative accents and highlighting details on furniture, frames, sculptures and other objects.
Although oil-based Posh Chalk Patinas and gilding wax may be similar in terms of achieving a metallic appearance, they differ in composition, application and techniques.
2.2 Posh Chalk Water-based Patinas
While the oil-based Posh Chalk Patinas have a longer drying time and are often slightly thicker and creamier in consistency, the water-based Posh Chalk Patinas have a shorter drying time and are usually slightly thinner and more fluid in consistency. In other words, with oil-based patinas you have a little more time to work with them before they fully harden, while water-based patinas dry quickly and also harden very easily.
The biggest visual difference between the two is in the colors. The water-based Posh Chalk Patinas are available in a wide range of vibrant colours, whilst the oil-based ones have a more traditional color range.
3. Posh Chalk Pastes
The Posh Chalk Pastes come in two variants:
- Smooth Metallic Pastes (18 colors)
- Textured Pastes (3 colors)
Both types are water-based and the main difference between the two varieties is that the Textured Pastes contain real Swarovski crystals! The crystals provide an extra dimension of texture, while the smooth pastes can be leveled to create a luxurious, smooth metallic finish - as the name suggests.
The pastes are thick and are designed with raised stenciling in mind. However, you don't have to spend lavishly with this product: “less is more!” If you use the pastes for raised stenciling, it is best to use a palette knife to distribute the paste as evenly as possible.
To add some extra spice to your Posh Chalk Paste stencil designs, add a little heat with a hairdryer or heat gun. If you heat the paste while the substance is still wet, the paste will swell. Ultimately, you'll get a thick eggshell-like consistency, which will add that extra bit of texture and definition to your project.
Once you start heating the paste, you will notice a distinct smell. After all, all Posh Chalk Pastes contain essential oils and each variant is scented slightly differently.
If stenciling isn't your thing, you don't have to throw away your pastes just yet. After all, the Posh Chalk Pastes can be used in the same way as paint. Or you can do a “paste wash” by diluting the paste with water.
An extra protective layer on top of the paste is not necessary. The Posh Chalk Pastes are an all-in-one product and do not require wax or varnish for protection. You can also use them for outdoor projects. Make sure that the product has completely hardened before placing them outside.
4. Posh Chalk Pigments
The Posh Chalk Pigments can sometimes be a bit daunting for beginners. But actually there is no need for that. They are super easy to use and the results are absolutely stunning. It almost seems like magic when you see how these little pots of powder can transform a project so much!
The first step is to mix the powder with a little Posh Chalk Infusor. First put some pigment powder in a jar, and then gradually add it to the infuser. By adding the pigments first and then mixing in the infuser, you have more control over the process to ultimately achieve the right consistency.
Talk about consistency. Posh Chalk Pigments are extremely versatile, precisely because you can control the consistency by adjusting the ratio between the pigments and the infuser. Do you need a thicker, paste-like mixture? Then use less infuser and more pigments, and vice versa.
It is possible to mix pigment with paint, but this can dull the metallic shine.
A combination with casting resin is also possible. In fact, pigments and casting resin make an excellent marriage, because the pigments naturally float in the center of the resin and therefore no two-phase reaction takes place!
The unparalleled shine you get thanks to pigment powder ensures that you can, as it were, turn anything into metal! Because the pigments are also real metal, you are essentially working with liquid metal. And that is the reason for the breathtaking and striking finish.
5. Metal leaf
Metal leaf is a thin sheet of metal used to create a shiny and metallic effect on surfaces such as wood, plaster, paper and other materials. It is available in different types of metal, including gold, silver and copper.
Annie Sloan offers its own range of metal leaf products, which have been specially developed to be used in combination with the Annie Sloan paint and finishing products. Using Annie Sloan metal leaf you can create a luxurious and glittering effect on furniture, accessories or other surfaces.
To apply Annie Sloan metal leaf, a special adhesive is used that is suitable for metal leaf. This glue is called “gold size”. Perhaps a somewhat strange name at first glance. But the word “size” is an Old English term for “glue.”
After the gold size has been applied and has dried sufficiently, the metal leaf is carefully applied to the surface and smoothed out. The excess metal can be removed by gentle brushing or rubbing, leaving only the adherent metal.
Annie Sloan metal leaf can be combined with other decorative techniques, such as applying paint or using other finishes, to achieve unique and artistic effects. It is a popular choice among DIYers and artists interested in adding a metallic touch to their creations.