Frequently Asked Questions About GILDERS® Paste Wax?

To order GILDERS® paste wax or find it at a store near you, visit our online store or check out our full list of retailers nationwide.

We are always interested in hearing from our customers—whether the feedback is good or bad—to educate by explaining our techniques and tips. If you do decide to experiment with our GILDERS® paste wax, give us a call. We will try to help as much as we can from our 25 + years of experience.

We are interested in showing your applications. Send in before and after pictures. We’ll review your project for the possibility of being on our website, advertisements, or brochures and cite your work—free advertising for you and a fresh look and education for our customers.

According to Merriam-Webstergild is defined as the following:

Pronunciation: ‘gild
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): gild·ed /’gil-d&d/; or gilt /’gilt/; gild·ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gyldan; akin to Old English gold gold
Date: 14th century
1: to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold

Yes—just add a few drops of either paint thinner, mineral spirits, turpentine (turps), or Turpenoid (turpentine substitute), knife in, and mix. You’re ready to go. The ability to rejuvenate this product allows a long shelf life. There is no need to mix up the whole tin; just mix what you need as you need it. GILDERS® paste wax goes a long way. (See question about coverage.)

IMPORTANT: Do not use any oil base cleaners/solvents such as Turpenoid Natural. The oil content of these type of cleaners/solvents will not allow the GILDERS® paste to dry and will remain wet or tacky for days to weeks. If you have accidentally used this type of cleaner/solvent, leave the tin open until it is completely dried out, then follow the suggestions for rejuvenation above.

Yes, our GILDERS® paste wax has been used and tested on gourds. It is recommended to etch the skin of the gourd with a solvent like paint thinner or acetone, or lightly sand the shell with fine dry/wet sandpaper or fine steel wool. If surface is too smooth or dirty, the paste wax will not attach to the gourd, and flaking will occur over time. (See question about rattan.)

With GILDERS® paste wax, there is no fading.

GILDERS® paste wax is formulated with the latest metallic, organic, synthetic, and iron oxides with the highest colorfastness available that conforms to the ASTM D4236. While there are other pigments with colorfastness properties, we feel that the chemical compositions of these other pigments (which sometimes contain lead chromates) are not friendly to our customers or to the environment.

NOTE: If your product is displayed inside, it is not necessary to over-coat, unless excessive handling is an issue.

Yes, GILDERS® paste wax can be used on rattan as well as wood and we recommend a top clear coat over applications that will have continuous handling. GILDERS® paste wax does not fade.

Please also read – “Surface Preparation”, “Color Fastness” and “Clear Coating” sections.

We are always interested to hear from our customers, good or bad, so we may educate by explaining tips and techniques used. If you do decide to experiment with our GILDERS® paste wax , Contact Us. Please take before and after pictures, and we will try to help from our experience. We can use your project on our web site, advertisements, or brochures and cite your work.

Yes, yes, and yes.

GILDERS® paste wax is used for exterior applications. We recommend using a UV-stable clear coat bought at your local paint store. Clear coats such as lacquer, acrylic, and clear powder coating have been used to topcoat over GILDERS® paste wax for added protection and overall appearance for outside projects. (See questions on colorfastness and clear coating.)

NOTE: If displayed inside, it is not necessary to over-coat, unless excessive handling is an issue.

Applying solvents (paint thinner, minerals spirits, turpentine, lacquer thinner), using wire brushes or paint scrappers, and sandblasting are various ways to remove the paste wax after it has been applied.

NOTE: GILDERS® paste wax can also be removed with a cloth within 10 minutes of application. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to remove.

We would recommend asking your local commercial paint store personnel about what to use for your particular solvent and dilution ratio. There are several different approaches to this, and we do not have the answer for all variations as to the viscosity needed to operate your spray system, nozzle/orifice size, and pressure. However, if you mix a bit of paint thinner or mineral spirits with GILDERS® paste wax, it will dilute the paste into a stain.

One note to think about is that when you spray—depending on dilution ratio and the color you choose—some pigments will settle in the holding tank. We recommend agitating the solution regularly to keep particles suspended. Also, when you spray the metallic colors, the pigments will spray at the path of least resistance to the substrate. After spraying, the substrate may look uneven or even rough. Wait about 12 hours, then wipe down with a soft cloth. This technique can be used when applying to wood furniture, and the results resemble a gold leaf.

We suggest consulting your local commercial paint store for further advice.

Yes.

Here are a few ways to achieve a runny look. Apply GILDERS® paste wax and spray, pour, or splash mineral spirits/paint thinner on top of it. Mix GILDERS® paste wax with solvent and splash, spray, or pour on substrate. Mixing with solvent will give you control by adding just enough so the product will drip or run on.

Yes.

We have metal smiths who use our GILDERS® paste wax on silver and copper. The surface of this type of application is typically smooth, and an etching solution (used for etching glass) works well, as does Sparex. Sparex is a cleaning solution used in the jewelry industry for polishing gold and silver. This product will also work on other smooth metal surfaces such as copper.

The etching solutions mentioned above will etch the metal the longer it is left on. This will produce a mechanical tooth to the surface needed to prep the surface for good adhesion. If the surface is too smooth, the GILDERS® paste wax will flake off over time because there is nothing to which to hold on.

GILDERS® paste wax has a mechanical bond, not a chemical bond.

Porous materials such as cement, wood, ceramic, bisque ware, paper, gourds, polymer clay, traditional clay, modeling clay, paper mashie, decoupage, foam and alike all have a mechanical tooth which is a proper surface for our GILDERS® paste wax to attach onto.

Other material such as wrought iron, metal castings, hand forgings, mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, glass, gloss painted surfaces, plastics, and other type of substrates need the surface to be distressed by either, sandblasting with fine silica sand, 400 grit sand paper, etching solution such as a glass etching solution or Sparex, coarse steel wool, wire brush or painted with a primer coat. You want to treat GILDERS® paste waxas a finish coat.

Also make sure the surface is free of all surface containments such as water, scale, dirt, grease, and oil.

We are always interested to hear from our customers, good or bad, so we may educate by explaining tips and techniques used. If you do decide to experiment with our GILDERS® paste wax , Contact Us. Please take before and after pictures, and we will try to help from our experience. We can use your project on our web site, advertisements, or brochures and cite your work.

GILDERS® paste wax will cover approximately 25 square feet (2.32 meters) per ounce. Coverage can vary depending on the type of applicator, application, and amount of additional solvent, as well as the desired finish or texture.

A small tin (30 ml by volume) will cover approximately 30 square feet (2.78 meters).

A large tin (100 ml by volume) will cover approximately 100 square feet (9.29 meters).

Several types of UV-resistant clear coats can be used.

We recommend—for readily handled and exterior applications—a solvent-based spray, UV-resistant clear coat such as acrylic, lacquer, or clear powder coating.

Brands in spray cans such as Rust Oleum®, Krylon®, Permalac®, and even Mod Podge® have been used.

UV-resistant polyester clear powder coating has been used as well. GILDERS® paste wax has been applied on ambient metal castings and put through the baking process where the castings reached 375°F (190°C) and a booth temperature of 410°F (210°C) with no discoloration or displacement to color.

Read the clear coat label and follow directions. Two light coats are better than one heavy coat.

We sell our products online and in a variety of retail stores nationwide. Please click here to see our full list of distributors and retailers.

Our product is not a paint, but rather a wax-based medium used to highlight and color a variety of substrates and materials, both inside and outside while providing that great, wax-finished look. By adding traditional paint thinner, you can transform GILDERS® paste wax into a cream, paint, stain, or wash—all with one product. You have total control of how opaque, translucent, textured, or washed this wax-based medium can be.

You can apply our product with a brush, a sponge, or even your finger to create your own finish or texture. Our product produces a matte to semi-gloss finish on its own, but by burnishing with a soft cloth, you can product a deep, rich luster.

GILDERS® paste wax is dry to the touch in 10 to 15 minutes and fully dries in 12 hours. After drying, it will have a durable, hard wax finish with no tacky residue.

We currently have a collection of 28 highly concentrated, colorfast paste waxes in both standard colors and metallic finishes. The colors can also be blended together for an endless color palette and possibilities.

Porous materials such as wrought iron, metal castings, hand forgings, wood, polymer clay, traditional clay, cement, ceramic, bisque ware, paper, gourds, paper mache, decoupage, foam, etc. all have a mechanical tooth that is a proper surface for applying GILDERS® paste wax.

Other materials such as mild steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, silver, glass, gloss-painted surfaces, plastics, and other types of substrates need the surface to be distressed with fine silica sand, 400-grit sand paper, etching solution, coarse steel wool, wire brush, or primer coat. You want to treat GILDERS® paste wax as a finish coat.

Also, make sure the surface is free of all surface containments such as water, scale, dirt, grease, and oil.

To order GILDERS® paste wax or find it at a store near you, visit our online store or check out our full list of retailers nationwide.

We are always interested to hear from our customers—whether feedback is good or bad—so that we may educate by explaining our techniques and tips. If you do decide to experiment with our GILDERS® paste wax, give us a call. Please take before and after pictures, and we will try to help as much as we can from our experience. We can use your project on our website, advertisements, or brochures, and we will cite your work.