How to apply gold leaf without it making too many folds?

Question

I need to apply gold leaf - how do I attach it - what kind of adesive -or even how do you cut it without it disintergrating?
Many thanks
D

Answer 1

You will need a special adhesive called sizing, which should be available wherever you're buying gold leaf (assuming you're buying the real thing). Do not touch leaf with your hands, and keep any other handling to a minimum. Keep it between two sheets of paper to protect it. When applying, use a tiny paintbrush to gently pull pieces off, then apply to the areas which have sizing on them. It's going to wrinkle a little, no matter what you do--this is how it works. Press it down with your brush to help minimize this.

Answer 2

Everybody's said what I was going to really, use metal leaf first, and don't cut it, you cover the object in 'size' (a glue) and it becomes tacky, then using a soft brush press the leaf to the object, making a small circular motion, the leaf is so thin that it will break where you want, just hold it in place with the brush and pull. Finally dust all over with a soft brush to get rid of any bits, then if you want you can varnish it. There is no need to varnish if using REAL gold leaf, but metal leaf can tarnish. A wipe over with a soft dry cloth is all that's needed to clean it. Good luck!!!

Answer 3

The kind of adhesive used will partly depend on what you you're attaching the metallic leaf to (if we're talking about the really lightweight "composition" metal leaf, or probably even "real gold" leaf, and not metalllic "foils" which are plastic and have a backing).

Usually the adhesive will be a permanent "white glue" that's been allowed to dry or at least tack up after application, or "size" which is white glue that stays tacky.
Other adhesives can be used though, like gesso, acrylic mediums, acrylic sealers, adhesive sprays and papers, and even hot glue, etc.

There are various ways to handle the flyaway stuff, but it won't adhere to itself so the coverage will end up fairly even looking even if it's done in several passes.

If you need to pick the leaf up to apply it (rather than being able to bring the item *to* the leaf, you can use things like one (or two) wet tips of uncooked pasta, or a medium amount of static created on an item like a plastic or hard-rubber item or clothing, or waxed paper rubbed on it, or a suction device, or a "gilder's tip" (basically a flat "brush" made of squirrel hair), etc.
There's more info on those on this page:
http://glassattic.com/polymer/leaf.htm
(... click on the subcategory called SEALING, TARNISHING & HANDLING...)

(Polymer clayers apply metallic leaf directly to raw clay since it's "sticky" enough to hold onto it and bond without an added adhesive... some metals will need to be sealed though to avoid tarnishing on the clay.)


As for cutting it, you can do that with the leaf between two sheets of waxed paper or deli paper, or you can cut it with the *tip* or corner of a sharp blade on it's paper, or you can try a variation of what gilders do... they use a thin board or wood block covered with a piece of chamois or heavy suede (have enough static for the leaf to stick) which over a thin sheet of batting for padding (gilder's pad); the cuts are then made with a gilders knife --a long straight-blade with a handle-- that's *pressed down* onto the leaf on the pad, then drawn back without removing it ... you can see a video clip of that process here:
http://americanart.si.edu/lunder/toolmedia.cfm?key=29&subkey=1214

HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 4

I am a total beginner trying to put leaf on a couple of curved stand alone letters, and found the leaf really wrinkled when tapping it into place even with a soft brush, and have found through trial and error that to slide the leaf on from the paper it s in (once PVA glue has become tacky) then just leave it! don t touch it again until ready to trim edges

Answer 5

Hello!

I'm working with gold leaf now, I'm not an expert but it's easy to add.

I recomend to you not to buy the certified gold to start, it's expensive and you are going to waste a lot in the learning process.

I bought the "Metal Leaf Adhesive" from Mona Lisa Products. You only have to add to the surface, wait some minutes and then, add the gold leaf.

In my case, I'm writing on paper (I'm calligrapher), but if you want to add this gold to any other surface, I recomend to you to buy the "3M Spay Mount". It's a very good option!

Once you finished your project, use a soft brush to eliminte the "extra" gold.

Best wishes!
Francisco

Answer 6

iev found by rubbing pva onto the item with a cloth, even after it is covered keep rubbing until the cloth stops sliding, this is a good indication that the pva is just tacky enough but not too wet to allow the leaf to stick, thats with real gold

Answer 7

I've only done a bit of gilding on illuminated letters in calligraphy. There is a proper adhesive, but I have found a small amount of pva just as effective, but you have to let it almost dry before you apply (breathe on it just to make it a bit tacky). I have failed to successfully cut, prefering just to lay it on that particular bit and then pull the rest away.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Maybe gold should be mixed with a small amount of some other compatible metal, usually copper!