backing up gold leaf window

[Antony Sands]

hi can anyone tell me the best way to back up gold leaf window. i have used clear poly as size.
thanks

[erik winkler]

Hello Antony

I recommend a search in the forum using these words: back up goldleaf

Erik

[Mike Jackson]

Hi Antony,
You mentioned using clear poly as a size. Normally, when people are talking about backing up gold leaf on glass, they would have used a small amount of gelatin mixed with distilled water as a water size. The gold is applied to the glass over the water size with a gilder's tip. When the gild is dry, the gold is backed up with one of several different back up paints. It sounds like you used a process some people call surface gilding, even though you might have done so in reverse on glass.

It will be hard for anyone to give you a more specific answer here until you expand on the steps and materials you used.

Good luck,
Mike Jackson

[Antony Sands]

hi mike thanks for replying yes i may have used the wrong size for a reverse window job.Although i achieved a good finish i want to back up so publican can clean inside. i think ill have a practice with some gelatine size.You guys have inspired me to try harder to sell my brush work to customers thanks again to all for sharing.

[Antony Sands]

hi handletterers; i have been enjoying your work imensely and feel a bit amatuerish now.I used oil size on a reverse window.
can anyone tell me the receipe for size or brand ready made.Also can i risk backing up with solver uv clear that i use to edge seal painted window signs, thanks from tone

[erik winkler]

Antony,

Again: Do a search!
Everything you want to know and 100 times more is to be found in the history of this forum.

Erik

[Mike Jackson]

Antony,
Do this TODAY. Click this link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... es&x=0&y=0

Then buy the book called "Gold Leaf Techniques" by Raymond J. LeBlanc and Kent Smith from one of the vendors.

Once you do that and get the book coming your way, do a Google search for gold leaf and a YouTube search for the same. They will give you some instant information, but you still need the book for a well rounded background and list of terminology.

Buy the BOOK ....NOW.

You can also do a book search on any of the sites like Abe Books or Alibris and find older editions of Gold Leaf Techniques. They are fun to have and equally informative, but some of the materials described in them are difficult to find or out of use.

And again, buy the BOOK....NOW.

For all of us that have put down a single leaf of gold with a gilder's tip, we've probably 100% had that book in front of us as we learned.

Good luck,
Mike Jackson

[erik winkler]

Mike is absolutely right.

[Raymond Chapman]

That's how I learned - from the book. No one in my area was doing gold leaf, so I just had to learn by trial and error....lots of error.

[Antony Sands]

thankyou guys for the tip.Ill order that book tomorrow.Ive got the goldleaf bug.

[Antony Sands]

heres a photo of my son julian & and my pub glass job.

[Antony Sands]

ill have another try.

[Antony Sands]

[Antony Sands]

[Anthony Bennett]

Nice one Anthony

[oatis]

Antony:

That's a GREAT looking transom! It looks like you got nice, bright matte gild. Do some engine turning on the next one; it'll dance! I assume you used the same black enamel to capture the back of the gold lettering that you used for the outline and shade. That goes a long way to protecting the job. After that has cured, a good coat of window spar will seal the deal. Can you get that in your part of the globe?

And I love seeing your son with a brush! Good-on-ya for breaking in the next generation.

And the LeBlanc, of course, is a must. Mr. Leblanc's introduction in the original 1962 book is the MOST moving and insightful summary of the Letterheads spirit: written thirteen years before the organization was ever founded.

Keep swingin' it.

Mark Oatis

[Antony Sands]

thanks for the great tips, :julians still at school but i work him hard on holidays.We dont have window spar.
We have solver uv clear that i use to clear tranfer leaf.i think its poly urethane.