Jet of the Day: Laura Stamper: Tutorial- Applying Gold to Your Pieces

Here is my tutorial for a simple way to add high carat gold to your pieces.  This is so easy, a monkey could do it!!

You will need:

• paint brushes
• gold leaf lacquer
• 23 k gold leaf
• lacquer thinner
• sealant

1.)Prepare the piece.  Make sure it is clean and dry.  (This ring was polished to a mirror finish and then treated with an application of liver of sulfur followed by a baking soda  bath.)

2.) Apply a thin coat of lacquer where you want the gold to adhere..  I like a soft brush for this.  Clean your brush with lacquer thinner when you are done and let the lacquer dry until tacky.  This can take 1-3 hours.  Applying the gold too soon will  create and uneven and bubbled appearance.

3.) Tear off the size of gold leaf to apply, keeping it between the protective tissues.   The gold leaf is very thin and can stick to scissors or you fingers and a breath can blow it away!

4.) After removing one side of the protective tissue, place the gold leaf with on your item.

 
5.) Tamp the leaf onto the lacquered piece using a stiff brush. Keep the tissue in place while you do this.

 

 6.)  Gently brush off excess gold.  Save excess gold as you can reuse it.

7.) Seal with lacquer sealant.

Voila:
 

Thank you for reading!