Gamblin painting mediums- Galkyd Gel, Galkyd, Galkyd Lite are made by combining alkyd resin + Gamsol.
Alkyd resin is a highly polymerized soy oil. It is made by heating soy oil + acid + alcohol in an airless chamber to a high temperature for several hours. Gamsol is added to keep the alkyd resin from completely drying by filling the space between the oil molecules. Alkyd resin painting mediums dry in two stages: solvent evaporation followed by oxidation. The more gamsol added, the longer it will take to dry.
Galkyd has a higher viscosity than Galkyd lite because it has LESS Gamsol. Galkyd, thus, is Gamblin’s fastest drying medium.
Galkyd lite and Galkyd Gel have about the same amount of gamsol (50%) and dry a little more slowly than Galkyd (although still quite fast).
Galkyd-Gel mixed with cwm will dry faster than cwm on its own, and any of the Galkyds (G-Gel, Galkyd or Galkyd lite) will make the cwm harder and more flexible when it dries.
Galkyd, having less gamsol, is more viscous, higher in tack, and more self-leveling when combined with oil paints.
Galkyd lite, having about 20% more gamsol than galkyd, is more fluid, less tacky and less self-leveling.
Galkyd Gel is the thickest of the Galkyd mediums and is recommended for mixing with Cold Wax Medium with regard to maintaining consistency of a wax mixture, but you can use any of Gamblin’s painting mediums with cwm.