Angel Gilding vs Gold Leaf
 |
The most common alternative to Angel Gilding is gold leaf
gilding - applying thin gold leaves to glass with a gelatin size.
The leaves are so thin and light that they float in the air. Dave Smith's new Smith Tip makes gold leaf gilding much easier than it used to be. We carry silver and aluminum leaf. Because of its volatile price, we do not carry gold leaf. This chart lists the pros and cons of both techniques. The technique you chose will depend on the size, location and design requirements of the job in hand. |
This chart applies to all metals - not just to gold.
| Angel Gilding | Gold Leaf |
| Apply to a horizontal surface | Apply to a vertical surface |
| Apply to the back of the glass | Apply to either side of the glass |
| Use on a work bench | Use in any location |
| Requires careful measurements | Requires well developed fine motor skills |
| Can be chemically removed | Can be chemically removed1 |
| Uses gold efficiently2 | Waste occurs during burnishing |
| Requires two metal layers | Uses more gold per square foot2 |
| Gilds textured glass easily | Does not gild textured glass well. |
| Faster for large areas3 | Faster for small areas |
| Screen print for selective designs | Screen print for selective designs |
| Apply over a vinyl mask | Can not apply over a vinyl mask |
| Apply to the inside of a container | Apply to porous surfaces |
| Seamless | Shows lines between the leaves |
1Our mirror removers dissolve metal leaf.
2In October 2007 Robert Frese of Chicagold Signs told me that he would need 32 gold leaves to gild one square foot of glass perfectly. At that time the spot price of gold was $750 a Troy ounce and a book of 500 gold leaves cost about $635. Robert’s 32 gold leaves would have cost him $40. He could have Angel Gilded the glass for $18.
3It takes the same amount of time to Angel Gild 4 square feet as it does 1 square foot. Gold leaves are applied one at a time.
We can teach you Angel Gilding. For a detailed discussion of gold leaf gilding, read Gold Leaf Techniques by Raymond LeBlanc, edited by Kent Smith and published by ST Media Group International, 1998, ISBN: 0944094252
