Thread: Preview: Dubl Duck Special #1- input needed

So I started messing around with a hand held thingy like a dremel, and I have sub gold leaf stuff, this is my preliminary testing stuff. The material is lexan with a satin finish (intentional) with a LIGHT engraving that is for the purpose of gold leafing it. The gold leaf seems pretty permanent, won't hold up to maas but does with with regular friction (skin, paper towel, towl) and water pretty well. However... what do you guys think is the best way to preserve the satin finish and gold leaf? One coat of CA? A couple coats CA? Thin coat of Epoxy?
This is a scan btw not photo quality, and just a slap dash job.

Here's a "scale" I'm working on for feasibility, and practice with the engraver...

EDIT: I know its rough hewn, it hasn't even been fully cut out (If you look carefully you can see where I scratch lines with and awl) or anything, I'm just practicing working with the material.

It depends on what the gold is made of. Real gold does not tarnish, mica based gold leaf products should not need to be to coated. Brass and copper based products need to be top coated with a solvent based finish. If you get the MSDS for the product you are using, you can figure out what it is made of.

Polycarbonate is pretty tough and should not need to be coated.

Charlie

Yeah, but to prevent the gold leaf from coming off, and to prevent the satin finish from scratching (which would scratch clear, looking ugly...) I'm pretty sure this is not REAL gold. Too cheap. Craft store stuff.

I'm probably going to stencil it if I can't get it down right. We shall see. I'm not sure if this is the way I really wanna go anyway so....

what a cool idea!

If you want it uniform, you would definitely need a stencil.

I say use a fast freehand cursive style and make the Dubl Duck your own!

If it will survive a light wiping with a soft cloth, then what about a thin coat of satin finish wipe-on poly?

If we're on the same wavelength mrbhagwan I think I know what you mean by poly. However, the finish needs to be clear, because otherwise the gold leaf will be satin too! That wouldn't be so good...

Originally Posted by joke1176

what a cool idea!

If you want it uniform, you would definitely need a stencil.

I say use a fast freehand cursive style and make the Dubl Duck your own!

On one hand if I want to sell this at some point I think I want it kinda plain and uniform. On the other hand, if I hang on to it, I will probably sign it! I have special plans for the blade, so... we'll see what happens. If it turns out really well I dunno if I could sell it, but I'm trying to keep myself to 7 razors....

Originally Posted by khaos

If we're on the same wavelength mrbhagwan I think I know what you mean by poly. However, the finish needs to be clear, because otherwise the gold leaf will be satin too! That wouldn't be so good...

Dang! Well, the only other things I can think are probably more trouble than they're worth.

First would be to mask off the scale, then clear coat the engraving with polyurethane (wipe on). If you use a stencil to make the lettering, then you could use the stencil to make a mask.

Second would be to clear coat everything, then texture (lightly sand) everything except the engraving back to satin. That would probably wind up looking funky though.

I don't know . . . my brain hurts! There's probably an easier solution we're overlooking.