I was charged 69.00 per book (not pack, but book) from a company last week. This was for patent leaf. I later called another company who could sell some books to me for almost half that because they had some on the shelf. (and I think they may have been hungry for business? ... or was the other company gauging me?)
So .... what is the real cost of that stuff these days?
Inquiring minds don't want to be ripped off. haha
~nettie
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
what brand did you buy?
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
I don't have the package on the book anymore, from the highter cost brand ... but the invoice just says XX Patent Gold.
The cheaper company's brand was Swift I believe, which I've used before.
I also had some leftover loose leaf at home from a previous job which was Monarch.
Is one gold better than the other?
I guess any knowledge I could gain on gold leaf would be good.
Posted by Richard Heller (Member # 2443) on :
I don't know what the other brand was, but Swift is usually a cheaper brand and doesn't cover as well as others. The brand really can make a difference both in price and the quality (thickness).
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Gold leaf has also gone up tremendously (more than doubled) the last year. I got some real surprises when I reordered.
I was told by the supplier that the driving force in the price increase wasn't so much the cost of the Gold (there's not a great amount of it in the leaf once it's pounded so thin) but what's happened to the currency.
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Nettie,
If you have swift, the dealer was unloading it.....it's been on the shelf for quite a while. To the best of my knowlege Swift is outa business. They were right here in hartford CT and I can't find hide nor hair of em.
I've been paying about $500 a pac (+/-). If you are buying by the book it's gonna run ya a bit more.......$35-45. At $69, you were taken for a ride. IMHO
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
David, what price were you surprised at? I want to be knowing what the current sticker shock is so that I can be in the loop when I'm pricing out jobs. haha
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
Nettie....next time call :
W & B Gold Leaf
and ask :
Urban Billmeier 773-472-1544
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
I almost always buy by the pack. Gold which was $250.00 was pushing $500.00. It has doubled in just over a year.
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
My last pac was from Seep.....$498 which included S+H and Insurance. It's Chinese (23k) and a little smaller leaf.....I think 3" x 3". BTW, I have been getting brillant gilds with it ( I'm probably just getting better at it)
I believe the other brands were between $40 to $60) higher.
The difference is in what is in the other k. I'm not making museum pieces or reverse glass so I never, and I mean never, gave a hoot. Remember, IJAFS. No brand has ever failed me. The only issues I've had is with the gold sticking to the paper (patent) and that problem has not been brand specific or too much rouge.
OH.....another important thing (price wise). Surface gold has small holes in it which is not a problem when surface gilding.....heck, ya put holes in it anyway when you put it down. Now, for glass work, the leaf must be perfect. That leaf is called deep glass. That is much more expensive.....maybe that is what you paid the $69 for.....dunno?
Of course now that I've typed all this, Kent Smith will be along to straighten us all out!!!
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
[ August 04, 2009, 09:42 PM: Message edited by: Joe Cieslowski ]
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
I just ordered 15 books of 23K patent from Urban at W&B Gold Leaf for about $35 a book. He's a great guy, sells excellent quality, and is a merchant here in Letterville........
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...they weren't gauging you, but they were gouging ya. For surface work lower quality gold should be all right.
Posted by Janette Balogh (Member # 192) on :
Watch it Billy, I'm going to start calling you "picky pickett"! haha
Posted by Joe Cieslowski (Member # 2429) on :
Not to be picky, but what is lower quality gold Mr Pickett?
Joe,
Makin Chip$ and Havin Fun!
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...Swift and any gold w. holes in it. This is suitable enough for surface work. But, for glass, only the best quality yields the highest burnish.
Posted by Raymond Chapman (Member # 361) on :
I've been using Crocodile Brand from Sepp and have really been pleased with it. It is patent 23Kt. DBL. standard 3-3/8" square.
The last time I bought some it was around $500 a pack, but that is almost gone now. When I checked the price about three months ago it was right at $600 a pack...so I'll probably be buying it by the book as I need it.
Posted by Michael Boone (Member # 308) on :
I use Crocodile too I like it 600 for last pack
Posted by Len Mort (Member # 7030) on :
I use Crocodile as well. Swift was great gold, surface, glass and striping rolls. When Matthew Swift died at 102 years old in 2005, the son did not want to continue the operation, they closed the doors. Swift also had a great slow size.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Poormen shop Ebay.......
I bought a pack of Swift xx deep patent for $400 and 10 books of Giusto Mannetti xx glass loose leaf for $20/book. Turned out the guy lived a few miles from the shop and brought it by when he came into town.
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
W&B all the way. Quality, good price, great service, Letterville Merchant!!!!!!!!
Posted by Rodger MacMunn (Member # 4316) on :
W&B here as well. Don't know much about gold compared to a lot of you, but it just "feels" nicer to work with.
Posted by Sam Staffan (Member # 4552) on :
My last purchase was with Sepp Leaf in Jan. It was for 4 packs of SL23 @ $825.00 per pack.
Newest order last month 1 pack SL23 $952.50
SL23.5 is running -$1112.00 a pack
Crocodile is running $640.00 a pack
W&B is $560.85
[ August 06, 2009, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: Sam Staffan ]
Posted by Brian Oliver (Member # 2019) on :
Another endorsement for W&B. Reasonable prices and great to work with. Good quality, too.
Posted by Doug Bernhardt (Member # 1568) on :
Yikkes........do prices vary!! In Canada I go usually to Art Essentials which has an office in Toronto. If I remember correctly last order for a pack of glass gold(it's thicker than surface) and one of patent came in at $1200-$1300. There is a savings at over a pack an order. I have seen it for more than $80 a book at art shops etc. Might be worth becoming a retailer at the same time.
Posted by Mark Yearwood (Member # 2723) on :
I just ordered a pack of Crocodile 23k double x loose surface from Sepp Leaf for $570.
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