The squirrel hair gilder’s tip brush enables you to take up the gold leaf from the GILDER´S CUSHION. This functions by virtue of the electrostatic charge present in the fine hairs. For SILVER LEAF AND METAL LEAF – both of which are heavier than gold leaf – a gilder’s tip brush made with synthetic hair is necessary because such hair has a considerably higher static charge. If the charge does not produce enough adhesive strength, the brush should be rubbed against your cheek and that should produce a greater static charge. The width of the gilder’s tip brush should be somewhat smaller than the width of the gold or silver leaf that is to be applied so as to avoid having the hairs of the brush come into contact with the wet surface and become wet itself. Smaller pieces can be taken up and applied with a FORMING BRUSH.