Swissplanet Posted March 31, 2004 Share Posted March 31, 2004 The gilding process is, in theory, a simple one. You place a sticky substance to the item to be gilded in the place you want the gold to stick. When it has dried to the proper consistency, a sheet of very thin gold, called gold leaf, is applied to the robot, and burnished to a high reflectivity. Gold leaf is nothing more than extremely fine sheets of gold which have been pounded or rolled to a thickness much thinner than paper, it comes ready pressed into leaves. It can be purchased at virtually any good art supply store or signpainters' supply shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissplanet Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 After it is applied, the gold leaf is teased into the robot with a soft brush. The sheets of 23K gold are so fine, so gossamer, that the slightest movement of air will make a sheet flutter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissplanet Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 Gold leaf comes in booklets, with a sheet between alternating pages. This keeps it from sticking to anything and allows you to apply it without touching the sheet.You need a lot of patience, if you are working on the legs you must applied small pieces of gold... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissplanet Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 It looks easy to make, but you'll have a couple of problems trying to fill those empty places... first when the sticky substance has dried completely, you are ready to begin laying the gold. This procedure must be done quickly, so be sure to have all the materials and tools at hand when you are ready to begin. Also, the slightest breeze can wrinkle or even destroy the gold-leaf. Work in a place where you will not disturbed by people walking by. Send your spouse, the kids, and your pets OUT OF THE HOUSE. Talking to you while are working should be grounds for justifiable homicide. Turn off all fans, heaters, and air conditioners. Close all the windows and doors in the room where you are working. To actually lay the leaf , cut a piece of gold slightly larger than the area to be gilded with the scissor, leaving it in the packet while you do so. It is not worth trying to save gold by cutting it to exactly the dimensions needed. Then, holding your breath, run the gilder's brush through your hair to build up a little static electricity on it. Use the brush to pick up the gold and transfer it over to the work. Using a breathing-tube, breathe lightly on the dried size where you want to lay the gold. The moisture in your breath will make the size tacky again. Then you may lay the gold directly onto the sticky substance and brush it down lightly into place with the gilder's brush. At this point you may breathe again (at least until you are ready to lay the next piece of gold). However, at the end you'll be happy you did! ... If you are afraid, you can try with other things instead your robot... like this one's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swissplanet Posted March 31, 2004 Author Share Posted March 31, 2004 Then, you'll need bodyguards to follow your Golden Robot around with guns... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGHWHEEL KICKER Posted October 14, 2004 Share Posted October 14, 2004 Superb info. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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