Current position: Service & Support
Sample Availability & Policy
Samples are free and dispatched by express couriers, air or post as per customer's requirement. Delivery fees are on the account of the client.
Guarantees / Warranties / Terms and conditions
We guarantee not only world-class products at competitive prices, and we provide world-class services to our customers. Clients' kind inquiries and requirements will be received a prompt reply.
Export / Import Processing Support
We provide full support and services for the export process as per customers' requirements. Clients can be sure of receiving full cooperation for prompt delivery.
Application & Techniques
1 - Prepare And Prime
The SurfacesLightly sand the surface to be gilded, if necessary and apply a suitable primer. It is important that the surface to be gilded is non porous otherwise the gilding "size" will soak into the substrate and the gold, silver leaf or metal leaf will not adhere. If the surface is metal, make sure there is no grease or dirt and the surface is completely clean.The colour paint or clay used to prime the surface will determine the overall appearance of the finished product as it acts as an undertone to the gold or silver leaf. For example, a red colour beneath gold will give a warm rich finish and likewise, a grey or blue tone beneath silver will give a cooler tone to the silver finish.
2 - Apply Adhesive Size
"Size" is the name given in the trade to the adhesive used to fix the leaf to the surface. It is available as water based size or oil-based size. Water based size should not be used outdoors. The water based size reaches tack within about 20 minutes and is ready to receive the gold. The "open" time is at least 36 hours and often longer. The oil-based sizes are available in a variety of drying times from 1.5 hr to 24 hr and they have different "open" times. It is best to refer to our website to reference the open and drying times of the various sizes available.Apply the chosen size to the substrate with a good size brush in thin, even coats. The size will dry to a "tack" which will feel like the back of a piece of sellotape. It is then ready to receive the leaf. It is important not to lay the leaf when the size is still wet.
3 - Apply The Leaf
If you are using Transfer leaf, take a sheet out of the booklet, place it face down onto the sized area and gently rub over the back of the backing paper to release the gold onto the surface. As you continue gilding, overlap the leaf by about 2mm (This will avoid any gaps in between the leaves which may be fiddly to fill in later)If you are using loose leaf, gently lift the leaf from the booklet using a gilders tip or other soft brush and using a gilders mop, tamp the leaf into the intricate areas of the moulding.
4 - Protection
Genuine gold leaf 22ct and above does not need to be sealed, as it will not oxidise. Gold of this high carat looks far better if it can be left without a varnish. Anything lower than this carat can oxidise, as will most of the metal leaf alloys. Aluminium, Palladium and Platinum are non-tarnishing. However, if the gold 22ct and above is in heavy traffic areas or is likely to get scratched or finger marked then it will need protection by water varnish.Many gilded items require an antiqued finish. This can be added to the newly gilded item by using a variety of antiquing methods.
The links are only a guideline for the requirements of a gilding task. Each gilding task may have different requirements and therefore will call for different products to be used. You will be very skilled after differnent trying!
