7500 Bluewater Road NW • Albuquerque, NM 87121-1962 USA 800.545.6566 • FAX: 800.965.2329 • Local: 505.839.3300 International: 505.839.3011 • International FAX: 505.839.3016 ©2015 Rio Grande, Inc. All Rights reserved. 1. Clean the item to be leafed of all dust and oil. 2. If you choose, paint the item with primer, lacquer or sealing glue to ensure as little porosity as possible (you can experiment with color primer coats to add dimension, color or texture to your design). Allow your piece to fully dry before applying the paint-on adhesive. 3. Pour out the amount of “size” (the technical term for the adhesive used to position and affix the leaf to your design; also called adhesive or varnish) you think you’ll need. Tightly reseal the container and do not return any used material to the container (discard any remaining material after use). Apply the size to the area to be leafed. The size will go on clear and become tacky to the touch as it begins to dry; it should be tacky (or even a bit beyond tacky) before the leaf is applied. 4. Pull back the top sheet of paper, turn the leaf upside-down and press it onto the base material (with the second layer of protective paper still on top). We recommend you try anything but directly touching the leaf until it has been pressed into the material or onto a surface coated with adhesive, because it will cling to your skin and will be difficult to place properly. You can try using a pointed tool to pick up the leaf, then position it onto your piece with a brush, or use static electricity by brushing the tip of a brush over your hair. This will hold the leaf while you’re positioning it on your sized piece. 5. The leaf will stick quickly and repositioning is nearly impossible. Use a soft brush to “tap” the leaf into place. After you have added all the leaf to your design, use the brush to remove the remaining small pieces of leaf. All residual leaf can be used again; keep a small container handy to collect them for reuse. 6. Gently rub the leaf with a soft cloth to burnish the leaf surface. Hint: The longer you wait for the size to dry after putting on the leaf the better your results will be after burnishing. 7. Use a clear lacquer (optional) to form a smooth, protective finish. Using Metal Leaf The centuries-old Japanese art of Kimpaku—gilding that uses fragile sheets of metal to create a decorative finish—is easy to learn and perform but takes time and practice to master. We highly recommend practicing first with copper or bronze leaf on a similarly shaped object before using more expensive gold leaf with your final project. This helps you become familiar with the gilding process and the materials’ properties. Please Note: The ultra-thin sheets of leaf are layered with protective paper. It is very important to keep the leaf in its packaging until you are ready to gild. The thin sheets of leaf are as light as air. Before being placed on your object, the slightest breeze (from your breath or wind) will move it. Some gilders find it easier to tear sheets of leaf into smaller pieces, allowing for less leaf to be handled at one time. Use care in tearing leaf sheets as well; it can cling to your skin and be difficult to remove without wrinkling or ruining it. Gold #681-128 Silver #681-127 Copper #681-126 Bronze #681-150 Using Metal Leaf Successfully Gold Size Quick-Drying Varnish Charbonnel paint- on adhesive helps you position metal leaf exactly where you want it. Please Note: Paint-on adhesive is not for use with oil-based materials such as polymer clay. Size Order # 75ml bottle 681-195

Using Metal Leaf - Rio Grande jewelry making supplies, jewelry

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Page 1: Using Metal Leaf - Rio Grande jewelry making supplies, jewelry

7500 Bluewater Road NW • Albuquerque, NM 87121-1962 USA800.545.6566 • FAX: 800.965.2329 • Local: 505.839.3300International: 505.839.3011 • International FAX: 505.839.3016

1. Clean the item to be leafed of all dust and oil.

2. If you choose, paint the item with primer, lacquer or sealing glue to ensure as little porosity as possible (you can experiment with color primer coats to add dimension, color or texture to your design). Allow your piece to fully dry before applying the paint-on adhesive.

3. Pour out the amount of “size” (the technical term for the adhesive used to position and affix the leaf to your design; also called adhesive or varnish) you think you’ll need. Tightly reseal the container and do not return any used material to the container (discard any remaining material after use). Apply the size to the area to be leafed. The size will go on clear and become tacky to the touch as it begins to dry; it should be tacky (or even a bit beyond tacky) before the leaf is applied.

4. Pull back the top sheet of paper, turn the leaf upside-down and press it onto the base material (with the second layer of protective paper still on top). We recommend you try anything but directly touching

the leaf until it has been pressed into the material or onto a surface coated with adhesive, because it will cling to your skin and will be difficult to place properly. You can try using a pointed tool to pick up the leaf, then position it onto your piece with a brush, or use static electricity by brushing the tip of a brush over your hair. This will hold the leaf while you’re positioning it on your sized piece.

5. The leaf will stick quickly and repositioning is nearly impossible. Use a soft brush to “tap” the leaf into place. After you have added all the leaf to your design, use the brush to remove the remaining small pieces of leaf. All residual leaf can be used again; keep a small container handy to collect them for reuse.

6. Gently rub the leaf with a soft cloth to burnish the leaf surface. Hint: The longer you wait for the size to dry after putting on the leaf the better your results will be after burnishing.

7. Use a clear lacquer (optional) to form a smooth, protective finish.

Using Metal Leaf

The centuries-old Japanese art of Kimpaku—gilding that uses fragile sheets of metal to create a decorative finish—is easy to learn and perform but takes time and practice to master.

We highly recommend practicing first with copper or bronze leaf on a similarly shaped object before using more expensive gold leaf with your final project. This helps you become familiar with the gilding process and the materials’ properties.

Please Note: The ultra-thin sheets of leaf are layered with protective paper. It is very important to keep the leaf in its packaging until you are ready to gild.

The thin sheets of leaf are as light as air. Before being placed on your object, the slightest breeze (from your breath or wind) will move it. Some gilders find it easier to tear sheets of leaf into smaller pieces, allowing for less leaf to be handled at one time. Use care in tearing leaf sheets as well; it can cling to your skin and be difficult to remove without wrinkling or ruining it.

Gold #681-128Silver #681-127Copper #681-126Bronze #681-150

Using Metal Leaf Successfully

Gold Size Quick-Drying VarnishCharbonnel paint- on adhesive helps you position metal leaf exactly where you want it.

Please Note: Paint-on adhesive is not for use with oil-based materials such as polymer clay.Size Order #75ml bottle 681-195