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Gilding Precast Letters

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

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Dan Seese
Posts: 324
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:29 pm
Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Gilding Precast Letters

Post by Dan Seese »

I have an opportunity to bid on gilding some 24" tall engraved lettering on a fascia fascia.
I've never really actually worked with gilding precast material. Anyone have advice on a good sealer/primer to use or general technique on doing this?
Seems like it would be fairly simple but if anyone has done this it would help to get your take on it first.
Thanks!
Dan
"The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne."
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340 - 1400)

http://DanSeeseStudios.com
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Larry White
Posts: 1213
Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2004 4:18 am

Re: Gilding Precast Letters

Post by Larry White »

Give Tony Segale a call...he's probably doing it as we speak.
Seems he's got it all figured out.
Larry White
That's enough for now... it's gettin' late
Town Of Machine
http://www.walljewelry.com
Jes Troelsen
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 6:08 am
Location: Roskilde, Denmark
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Re: Gilding Precast Letters

Post by Jes Troelsen »

Hi Dan
I'm not sure what material you are going to gild on...
But I hav been doing outdoor gilding for the last 24 years.
In my experince you can do gilding on anything you can paint...
To achieve the best results you need to prepare the surface as for a paint job. Sanding and priming using a suitable primer, sanding again and finish of by applying 2 coats of gloss or hi gloss paint for outdoor use. The smoother and shinier the surface, the shinier the finished gold.
Gild using a oilbased goldsize, I prefeer a 12 hour size mixed 50/50 with French turpentine. Apply the size evenly, in a very thin layer. Wait for the size to reach whistle tack, and gild...
I hope this can help you..
Otherwise let me know..

Jes
Jes Troelsen
Ovner at AKANTUS, www.akantus-maler.dk
Danish painter, gilder, sign writer.
Dan Seese
Posts: 324
Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2004 11:29 pm
Location: Fort Collins, CO
Contact:

Re: Gilding Precast Letters

Post by Dan Seese »

Thank you, Larry. I will give that Segale fellow a call!

Jes, thanks for your advice as well. I've done a fair amount of gilding myself but the particular surface I am looking at is precast concrete. A mold is made of the letters and formed into the concrete. It's just a surface I haven't worked with and want to be sure I have all the facts in place before submitting a bid.

I did talk with Kent Smith about it briefly and was able to get some good advice from him. One of my concerns is properly sealing the concrete so that it will accept the gold size as well as minimize lime leaching out in the future.
Dan
"The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne."
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 1340 - 1400)

http://DanSeeseStudios.com
http://www.DanSeeseStudios.com/blog/
http://www.facebook.com/DanSeeseStudios
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