Gold

[Leerwerker]

Hi everybody,

Last month our guild asked about gold on leather and here is some of what I could show them:

These two letters are carved very normally. The top one was painted with LiquidLeaf, from Michaels, an art chain.

The bottom one was done in real gold leaf, thin sheets on gold applied over an adhesive (called "size").

Both were sealed with a special sealer that is made for sealing gold leaf.

After they were sealed I applied antique stain to "cover up" the beveling around the letters.

[TomSwede]

I've been thinking about doing the gold leaf to beveled letters (or whatever) and come to the conclusion that one would have to be very steady on the hand when applying the grounder (the glue) to get it right. With dyes a steady hand is also required off course but doing retouches to gold leafed areas seem to be alot harder. Also I think one have to be careful and pamper the edges and make sure they have no unintended indents 'cuz the gold leaf probably would give away any surface faults very quickly.

Any opinions on this would be much appreciated.

Tom

[jbird]

hi guys I have used both methods a lot just not on leather they are both demanding and once there on you don't get them off, looks nice though.

Josh

[TomSwede]

IT does look good. I wonder how gold leaf stands the test of time, rub-off, leather bending back and forth etc.

Got two (possibly three) overwinter orders for rifle cases and one was very interested in gold-leafing logotype instead of, as he said, the standard gold nameplate.

Tom

[Ian]

I would bet that gold could be used very easily on leather. After all, there are bibles that are hundreds of years old with gold leaf on the covers and page edges. It might be that the regular size used on glass or other hard surfaces is not sufficient. So finding a more durable size and top finish might be the issue. I haven't done much gilding, but I imagine that another medium that holds it's tacky state would work, maybe even Barge, but there are other glues that are specifically made to stay tacky for a long time.

Regarldess, you need to lay the gold over a colored background to get a deep gold finished look. I have laid gold right onto tacky oil based paint.

[TomSwede]

Thanks Ian, Highly appreciate yor advice!

The supplier here make it look like it'll only work with the specific grounder/glue and top finish but they're humble enough to admit they don't now much about goldleafing and brought it in due to popular request. I'll have to try around a bit when I get into it. Also try what background colours do what to it then.

Thanks!

Tom

Edited June 26, 2008 by TomSwede