Beautiful gold plating can give a luxurious look to a metal piece.
Gilding is the art of applying a thin layer of metal to the surface of a solid. Basically, this term refers to gold, but it also applies to other metals such as silver, copper, bronze. A small metal surface can be gilded with gold leaf.
Necessary
- Decorated surface;
- gold leaf book;
- columnar brush;
- suede pad;
- knife;
- cotton gloves;
- shellac;
- water;
- ethanol;
- cotton fabric.
Instructions
Step 1
Gold leaf is produced in the form of the thinnest sheets collected in a book. Each sheet is lined with tissue paper. Gold leaf can vary depending on the presence of additional impurities in it. It is better to purchase this material in specialized stores, which guarantee the high-quality condition of the goods. The sheet should be free of folds, holes and other flaws.
Step 2
The metal surface requires preliminary preparation. If the place to be gilded is uneven, it should be sanded. After sanding, clean the surface from dust and degrease with acetone.
Step 3
Gold leaf surfaces can be scratched accidentally. To avoid this, treat the metal with a special compound before gilding. As a protective layer, shellac, which is an organic resin, can be applied.
Step 4
In order for the gold leaf to lay flat and adhere well, the surface must be moistened. Prepare a mixture of two-thirds water and one-third ethyl alcohol. Using a soft brush, lightly dampen the metal surface. Do not wet too much, otherwise the finished surface may lose its shine. After that, you should immediately start applying gold leaf.
Step 5
It is highly undesirable to take sheets with bare hands. For these purposes, stock up on cotton gloves. Blow lightly on the book. The edge sheet will lift up, and you can remove it with a special knife. The knife must be pre-treated with alcohol. Place the piece of paper on a leather or suede pad. Then cut it with a knife into squares that correspond to the size of the areas to be decorated.
Step 6
Transfer the sheet carefully to the metal. Using a core brush, press the gold leaf to the surface and smooth it out. In this way, process all the necessary areas of the product. After finishing processing, allow the surface to be decorated to dry completely. Then wipe the metal with a cotton cloth.
