Using gold leaf on incised letters

New Yankee Workshop did a complete segment on just this technique a few years ago. Bottom line—it ain’t easy. But Norm walks you through the process with the help of several experts. Do a search on the segment and buy it. You’ll be glad you did.

David Marks on Wood Works did it also.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I’ve done it over lacquer and I suck nowhere but to the sizing. Maybe its the finish you used? I put it on lacquer and covered it with enamel, you have to just dust it (spray painting) with enamel maybe 10 tomes to get the gold sealed so the enamel does not destroy it. After the dusting/sealing you can spray away with the enamel.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

i worked in frame shop for a couple of years and what we would do is spray the whole thing with shellac let it dry then use blue tape to cover the areas you don’t want to size. remove the tape and the leaf will only stick to your letters,then seal with laquor. hope that helps a little.

-- Roper - master of sawdust-

If you take a raw potato and cut it in half and rub it over the area that you do not want the gold leaf to adhere to it will stop it from sticking to that area. This is the process that Norm used as referenced by Bert J and has been used for many many years.

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

Thanks all. The potato sounds like the trick.

Roper – I found the hard way that carpenters masking tape leaves a residue – enough to “grab” the leaf.

Can I size over the leaf and put on a second coat?

i tried doing that once and it did not turn out well. size doesn’t stick to the gold leaf very well and will fall off in time. you can use laquer thinner to rub if off,or sand it litely with 320 grit paper.

-- Roper - master of sawdust-