Thread: Application of Gold Leaf

Hi guys,

I have a Joseph Elliot fine india steel straight with horn scales. On one of the scales there is some carving into the horn "Joseph Elliot Celebrated Razor" with the logo in the middle and a border with leaves. It originally had gold leaf in the carving "there is some left". Does anyone know how to apply gold leaf to something like this? If so, is it easy?

its the bottom razor:

http://i.imgur.com/byeXrHx.jpg

Thanks.

Applying gold leaf is not difficult but it can be fussy. There are kits available in most art supply stores complete with instructions. A base adhesive is applied, dry to tacky state, apply gold leaf (not real gold, unless you find a good source and pay high price) very carefully trying not to breath on it (thinner than thin), gentle press in place and using a large soft brush (like a make up brush) softly "dust" the area removing all the leaf that did not stick to the adhesive. Finish is a varnish like coating, also part of the kit. Good luck.

I occasionally use gold, and other metallic leaf, on my fabric wall hanging (as far as I can tell I'm the only one that has figured out a way to use it on cloth).

If you go that route I would first practice on a scrap of metal to make sure it will work. AND are you sure it was leaf and not a gold wash which is another story altogether?

You will probably have to electroplate.
Gold leaf is not easy to work with and definitely not going to work on a razor.(I mean real gold leaf)

Thanks for the response! I have no clue if its gold wash. Is there a way to tell if it is gold wash?

Originally Posted by mainaman

You will probably have to electroplate.
Gold leaf is not easy to work with and definitely not going to work on a razor.(I mean real gold leaf)

It would be applied to the horn scales. I figure if the horn was rough enough it could have leaf easily attach to it. I might be wrong though.

Originally Posted by docatduq

It would be applied to the horn scales. I figure if the horn was rough enough it could have leaf easily attach to it. I might be wrong though.

Missed that part, gold leaf would be my guess of going about it.
Another possibility would be air-bushing with gold paint.

i've used gold leaf (the artificial kind) on a wood carving. it has to be coated with a varnish type sealer so it doesn't tarnish. i thought for all the work it took it really didn't look much better than gold paint would have looked.JMO

In my mind two ways to go about it.

1) Oil size or oil based varnish and real gold leaf, pretty tricky but doable.

2) Rub n buff brand gilding paste, really easy, looks pretty good

I would look into the rub n buff products.

Charlie

hmm these are all good options. The more that are presented the more I dont want to apply the gold leaf. Its very intricate, I may be relegated to using a thin paint brush and gold paint. Ill just have to practice with any of the methods.

I don't think that there is a simple solution, however if you can get it done well, it will look amazing. It is a nice razor and scales.