A 3.5in (89mm) wide squirrel hair gilders tip slightly wider than the 80mm sheets of precious gold metal leaf. The gold leaf and imitation metal leaf (or Schlag) can be cut into smaller pieces using a straight blade or Gilders Knife on a Gilders Cushion.
A Gilders Tip is the traditional brush used for lifting a piece of delicate gold leaf before placing it on a Gilders Cushion ready to be cut or directly onto the item to be gilded. It consists on a fringe of squirrel hair sandwiched two pieces of cardboard (the handle). A tiny amount of static or grease (usually gained from brushing the hairs across your cheek) is enough to lift the gold leaf.