It really dries fast

ROLCO in my opinion is one of the better sizings out there. I have tried other brands and nothing even remotely comes close to ROLCO'S SIZING PRODUCTS. Rolco lays down well and sets rather quickly.

I used this size in a series of experimental artworks involving gold leaf on paper with watercolors. I chose this particular size because when it dries it forms a waterproof seal and I applied the leaf first, before the watercolors, to achieve a solid adherence to the paper. Also when I applied watercolors next to my gold leaf I didn't want the moisture dissolving or loosening any water based sizing. I sketched out my picture lightly in pencil and then applied this size to those sections of the heavy watercolor paper where I wanted gold leaf applied. What I quickly found out was that although the size flowed smoothly onto the paper from the brush, and stayed where the brush touched (as long as I didn't overload the brush), was that the size was quickly absorbed into the heavy paper and often pretty much dried on the first areas I coated before I could finish painting on the last. That was fine as it became a sealer coat. I allowed the size to dry overnight, applied the second coat the next day, and after waiting an hour and a half, applied my gold leaf. Additional experimentation showed me that layering multiple coats before applying the leaf gave me a smoother end result with higher sheen but that if I had not applied the first coat evenly, I still tended to run into dry spots when attempting to cover larger areas, though not serious ones. I applied my leaf and after waiting several days gently and lightly brushed off the excess gold. For the most part I had excellent results with the exception of an odd dry spot or two where my brush had missed application of a second or third coast of size. These minor spots did not hinder, and after the size with gold dried, I found I could pretty much watercolor right up to and on the gold leaf without too much worry about the gold leaf loosening. Only when I got the paper terribly wet and began actually heavily scrubbing the edges of the gold with the brush did any gold begin to loosen. All in all a very satisfactory result, and a new technique learned. This size works great.

This product does dry to a tacky finish in about 30 to 45 minutes if the weather is dry. You must make sure that you apply it evenly and be careful to not let it accumulate in dips or your leafing will bubble if it is still too wet.

This product cures to a tack within about one hour in most weather. It brushes out very smooth which is great for a gilding size. In dry climates, it does not retain good tack for the full 3 hours noted on the label.

THIS PRODUCT GOES DOWN SMOOTH!