After my sign is gilded, is there something I need to do with it? Do you clear coat the gilded letters? Yes, I DID try the search using the word "gilding" but it malfunctioned on me again.
Just seems to me that if you have to be so careful not to touch or rub the gild, it should have something over it.
My old sign friend gave me a can of Rolco fast size, & told me to clear them with it, but I want to make SURE, ok?
Thanks a bunch, guys!
[ October 04, 2005, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Bobbie Rochow ]
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Clear coat ONLY if it is where people can get their grubby lil hands on it!
Gold is best left naked!
[ October 04, 2005, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: Si Allen ]
Posted by Alicia B. Jennings (Member # 1272) on :
But Si, the world is so dirty. Even inside, you can get dust build up. Gold is best looking if naked, but I'd still clear it with One-Shot clear or an automotive clear.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
Bobbie,
I've been repeatedly told that clearing is best avoided if the gilded areas are not going to be touched . . .
My post finial ball will probably have to be cleared eventually . . . to protect the gold from bird do-do . . . seems they think it's a golden loo . . . .but I'm not going to clear the gold on the sign panel . . .
BRB to post you some links.
Lot's of interesting replies on these study links:
[ October 04, 2005, 11:10 PM: Message edited by: Sheila Ferrell ]
Posted by Steve Purcell (Member # 1140) on :
Your sign will look better & last longer if you don't clear the gold. (rare cases excepted)
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
I would also suggest to not clear gold leaf.
First of all, it will appear to dull the gold.
Second, the clear will eventually fail (rather quickly).
Third, if it gets dirty from normal environmental build-up, you can wash it carefully with soap and water.
As far as washing,.. I had some carved, gilded signs on my truck (on top of the sides of the bed) for years, and they had no clear over them. I regularly washed the gold leaf letters with the same wash cloth I washed the truck with (nice clean soft cloth), and that gold held-up beautifully, and never failed. As a matter of fact, I think it kept the gold looking really nice. I just made sure the cloth was soft, clean, and it was the first thing I would wash when I washed the truck (clean water).
All of this is with LeFranc slow size, so I have nothing else to compare it to.
A normal sign would not see such "abuse", and should be just fine.
I hope this helps, Peace out, Bob
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
the old rule was....dont clear slow size but do clear fast size...thats what I learned
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
My van has had gold leaf on it since 1998, NOT CLEARED! Still looks good!
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Si..
quote:Clear coat ONLY if it is where people can get their grubby lil hands on it!
Gold is best left naked!
I guess your meek and mild personality has kept those grubby fingers off yer van?? Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Thnaks, guys. I had my answer for sure until I read Michael's response:
the old rule was....dont clear slow size but do clear fast size...thats what I learned
Where do you get this info? Does anyone else agree?
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
I've never heard the rule about slow and fast size, but I never clear gold unless it is going to be near touchy fingers or will undergo abuse (like on vehicles).
A few years ago we put up a wood sign with gold leafed copy inside a building, but it was out of reach, so I didn't put any clear on it. This place has a very agressive cleaning team and now after about six years the gold is getting thin.
Posted by Ricky Jackson (Member # 5082) on :
"...getting thin"??? Thinner than 1/200,000ths of an inch? LOL, just busting yer chops there pard. I gilded some do-dads on the outside of the Littlefield Building in downtown Austin; I was using a swing stage. It was 2" wide strips about 2' long so I ordered some roll gold. Somehow, I managed to fumble the dang thing and watched as it spooled off down to the sidewalk and halfway to San Antonio, gold flying everywhere. I've never heard that "rule" either Rainman.
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Lol!!!!Oh Ricky, only YOU huh? That is so funny, I could just picture you up there with that hat on, & the look on that face!
Posted by Beth Jenkins (Member # 5542) on :
I got another question- What do you do if you make a "boo boo" when outlining your gold with some black or any other color of One Shot Lettering Enamel and need to get it off of there WITHOUT messing up the gold???? Too late now...I already messed up the gold, but would like to know for next time....am regilding the one messed up letter tomorrow...that's all I can think of to do at this point.
I do think the slow size works better, which I unfortunately used the fast size on this project.
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
Beth, I just outlined mine today, & made 2 small boo-boos. I was using One Shot black, & I know everybody will wince at this, but I used my nose oil to remove it.
They weren't huge mistakes, but it worked. Yes, it left a small smudge, but not real bad, & you don't notice itunless you look REAL close for it. I was afraid to outline because I am not the best "brush-woman", but I did ok!
What ARE you supposed to do, anyway????
Posted by Beth Jenkins (Member # 5542) on :
Never thought of Nose Oil..HA! I wish I had a soft cloth around when I made my boo boo, I think that might have worked, but instead I paniced and grabbed a Bounty paper towel and scratched the gold up pretty good. Seriously, have always heard not to touch the gold with any kind of oil, though, even the oils from clean fingers will discolor the gold- maybe nose oil is milder than finger oil- WHO NOSE!
Posted by Bobbie Rochow (Member # 3341) on :
No, actually, Beth it DID leave an oil smudge, so I would never advise it. I had no time to call anyone while the paint dried, so I did it real qick.
Anybody have an answer to Beth's question? I'd like to know what I should have done, too!!!!
I bet your soft cloth idea would have worked, tho....
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...You can clean up outline BOO BOO's with a Q-tip and lacquer thinner. The LT will not effect the gold, but be gentle. This "tip" also is VERY handy for glass gilding.
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