Product Detail

Whiting is refined, ground and washed calcium carbonate. Used to make gesso and as a primer for scenic canvas when mixed with size. This primer will tighten the canvas to a drum like tension resulting in a perfectly flat surface to paint onto.

The mix is a matter of choice but the following guide may help:

• Soak 1 part of granular size to 2 parts of water for one hour then warm in a double boiler until the size has completely dissolved. Two galvanised buckets with a brick in the bottom makes a good double boiler.
• Stir in the whiting and more water until you achieve a mix that will just run from a stick in a continuous stream.
• To test the mix dip in a piece of paper and dry with a heat gun. There should be just one or two sparkles of size reflecting in the light, too many and the mix is too strong but too few and the whiting will not be fully bound.
• Apply to the flat avoiding holidays while the mix is still warm.

Note: When canvassing the flats be careful not to stretch the canvas too tightly as the shrinking effect of the warm size could “banana” your frame.

For priming cloths we also recommend using Rosco White Base diluted 2:1 with water.

Flints can supply galvanised buckets and hot plates for purchase.