Gold Leaf in 9 Easy Steps Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Prepare work area: Cover working surfaces and floor areas with drop cloths or newspaper. Tape off any areas not to be gold leafed (gilded). Prepare the Iron surface if necessary by lightly sanding with 220 grit sandpaper. This is done to remove any blemishes.
2. Prime surface: Remove sanding dust with a cloth (cloth diaper, or any other lint free cloth. Apply a quality primer, such as Rolco Burnish Sealer.
3. Apply adhesive which will need to be sized to the size of the area of iron where the leaf will be applied. Various kinds of adhesive sizes are dependant on the look one wants on the completed project. For this project an oil based adhesive is suggested.
4. Testing the adhesive "tackiness." This step is very important because it determines if the surface is ready to apply your leaf. Which is when the 'size' is not wet but 'tacky', just before it dries completely.
5. To apply the surface gold leaf hold a book of leaf carefully, fold back the protective paper exposing the gold leaf. Lay the leaf on the sized area. Then 'roll' out the leaf. Hold firmly and carefully. Attach leaf to surface.
6. To apply patent leaf, remove a single sheet of gold leaf transfer paper carefully from the book, then gently apply to your surface. Using a gilder's brush, rub over the back of the paper. Remove the paper carefully, to leave the gold leaf adhered to the surface. Continue in this manner until project is complete.
7. The leaf must be 'Burnished.' Once the leaf is laid on the surface, rub gently and thoroughly with a gilder's brush making sure that the leaf adheres to the surface completely.
8. Touching up any areas that are missing leaf due to the wrong size or leaf areas that tore away during burnishing.
9. Seal and protect the leaved or gilded surface Applying protective coat of sealer is necessary to insure durability of the leaf. Especially on heavy objects such as furniture. However, it is not necessary to seal, if a gold leaf with a karat rating of 22 kt or higher was used.
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