White Gold Questions

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Posted by Raymond Chapman on August 29, 2002

I am bidding a job that requires white gold on glass for a new buiding in Austin (our state capital).

Now, I know that white gold is 12k and is a mixture of gold and silver, but I've never gilded with it before. From what I read in LeBlanc it seems that it is mainly for matt centers and not for burnished gilding. I know that it will look like silver, but are there any tricks to putting it on, or do I just water gild like with regular glass gold. And will the finish be shiny like it is with gold.

Kent may have added this to the revision, but I don't have the revision - just the old original from 1961. I SAID, KENT, I DON'T HAVE THE REVISION. Could that be a hint? Yea, I know...I can buy one anywhere.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Letters are 6" and 4" tall. The specs don't call for an outline, but I think it would look awfully plain without one.

Anybody want to give me a hint on pricing this jewel?

Pete McKearnan

One option if there is a lot of area to glass gild with a burnish silver is to use mirroring chemicals. I have had lots of success doing this on site. We use plastic tarps to protect the surrounding surfaces and spray bottles to spray on the glass to get the silver deposition. You can hand letter or screen print the back up. Please feel free to contact me for more info

Kent Smith

Good thought Pete, the aqua regia process gives a far superior finish on glass, it's easy and cheap too. I don't think of it first since I enjoy laying leaf so much, except on large areas.

Carol

Pete is right about that. It looks great and is fun to do.

Vance Galliher

........this is just to let yall know that we here in oregon stay tuned to this site.......i just need to pick another good question....cause i always seem to have so many in my own mind !........i appreciate we all being here !!........maybe see you in vancouver carol........vance

Jeffrey P. Lang

Ray,
I have used the 12k white gold for a few jobs, & it gilded just like regular gold. I didn't notice any tarnishing or discoloration afterwards. It finished just like the shiny gold only silver with a slight gold hue. I will try to post a picture of a window I did with 12k & 23k combination. You could also use paladium leaf for a more silver look.
Good Luck,
Jeff

Kent Smith

Yes I heard that Ray. No hurry on buying the book although I may need the couple of bucks royalty to pay the drought induced water bill next month.... I prefer white gold over silver especially because the gold content helps to resist tarnish. Also the gold is more maliable so clean up is easier than with pure silver, palladium or platinum. It is better to NOT use white gold for matte centers as it may show some tarnishing against the varnish because of the silver content but then it has been used often with some success. I have used either another karat of gold for a matte center with white burnish or aluminum for the matte.

Nice job Jeff, I like the mix of color especially as it shows the compatability of real precious metals. I don't particularly like palladium on glass as it tends to have a brownish cast which is particularly ugly with tints in the glass, especially the greenish tint of common glass. It is good to use when the effect itself is desired. Most of you have seen the giant green abalone tree I did some years ago which had platinum accents and paladium for the branches and trunk. Then the color was right. Platinum looks quite silvery but the cost is often prohibitive when compared with white gold.

As a caution: many gold beaters sell as white gold anything from 9K to 14K and matching at a later date can be painfull. While they are all technically white gold, the exact half and half mixture is 12K, easily matched even from brand to brand and most often preferred. 9K tends to tarnish in the pack unless well sealed but looks brighter than either plain silver or 12K. Brother Rick has some of each variety in stock and I got an update yesterday. As I have repeated in the latest update and some articles as well, there are as many varieties of alloy combinations as there are gold beaters.

Good luck Ray and remember to sell the quality of the job and design, not that "expensive leaf".