Question about gilding - wood, with false gold

[Mike Medved]

You are leaning. Water size has only been around for 30 years the ancient Egyptians used blood for gold leaf size but for centuries size was oil based that clay and rabbit glue would be a mess just get some good primer and put 2 or 3 coats down and sand between coats do not brush it on but use spray cans to build it up and your final coat of a good oil base paint can be brushed on because it will hell out smoothly

Can I ask you to clarify? Ok - so - I just paint the wood with a primer (spray acrylic primer? like "the army painter color primer" for example?) A few coats.

Then paint - why use paint and not apply the size to the primer?

Then oil-based size, then the gilding?

 

[Signstein]

I think folks are just trying to steer you away from overcomplicating, or getting lost in 'best' technique. Since you're using false gold leaf on a porous substrate the best results are going to come from the best foundation. Hence the suggestions for good primer coats (to seal your balsawood) and multiple topcoats with sanding between (to get a smooth surface for your leaf)

 

[John_Smith]

Mike - what hasn't been asked yet is . . . what are you using to cut out the name tags? Does your laser also cut the wood to shape?
Also, are you using a sealer or primer on the wood before applying the metal leaf?
For any kind of gilding, the surface must be smooth and blemish-free if you want the gloss and shiny look. It would help if you have advanced woodworking skills.

 

[Mike Medved]

Mike - what hasn't been asked yet is . . . what are you using to cut out the name tags? Does your laser also cut the wood to shape?
Also, are you using a sealer or primer on the wood before applying the metal leaf?
For any kind of gilding, the surface must be smooth and blemish-free if you want the gloss and shiny look. It would help if you have advanced woodworking skills.

LOL I am a computer programmer, have been one for 45+ years. I play to my strengths - for the nameplates I made a nameplate designer app that just spits out a project file that can be loaded directly into a laser so the friction between design and manufacture is minimal. So far I perfected the technique for making brass nameplates - glossy, aged or super-aged brass, now am trying to do the traditional gilded kind. Yes, I first gild then cut out (covering the whole thing in Washi tape to prevent scorching the gilding). And yes I am getting all the materials right now to do the multi-coat priming, base and as smooth a size as possible.

 

[Stacey K]

From my crafting experience...I use cheap gold leaf from China I got from Amazon, an old liquid base from like 15 years ago I had in my craft bin for some cabinet feet in my bathroom. After I laid the gold I went over it with a soft cloth in a circlular motion before it was completely dry, kinda like I was buffing. It turned out quite smooth. No idea if it would work but you could try on a sample. Is that the right way? Probably not. Do I care? No...it's a craft project lol

 

[Johnny Best]

Are these nameplate for urns ??

you mean urinals?