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Q&A for How to Apply Gold Leaf

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Can I paint over gold leaf with egg tempera or acrylic paint?

Community Answer

Yes, you can use either medium. Medieval artists would often use tempera paint on gilded icons. You can find a tutorial on using acrylic paint at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTKy5Tx9hso.

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Can I apply gold leaf over an oil painting?

Community Answer

Yes you can! Use a water gilding method instead of oil gilding. The gold will take instantly to any shape left on surface, such as brush strokes or indents.

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Question

I have a 50th anniversary cup that has gold trim and lettering. Can I use an 18k gold pen to add names and if so will it stay on if washed?

Community Answer

You can use it, but you should wash it by hand only.

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How fragile or strong is gold leaf? Can it be used to wrap heat sensitive scientific equipment to reflect infrared energy, or is a thicker gold foil required? In some applications, it's not feasible to gold-plate some instrument enclosures or pipes/conduits.

Community Answer

Gold leaf is a basically gold foil and is used primarily for decorative purposes. Gold plating is a different process. https://www.thermofisher.com/blog/metals/how-gold-plating-is-done-step-by-step/

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Question

Can I use gold leaf with drawing ink or alcohol ink?

Community Answer

Because it is gold leaf, if you were to put it in ink, it would deteriorate. I recommend buying gold drawing ink or gold oil or acrylic paint if you want your ink to have color to it. You could apply the gold leaf over dry ink.

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Question

Can you gild onto stainless steel?

Community Answer

You can apply gold plating to stainless steel. However, there doesn't seem to be any reliable information about using gilding, which is a different process.

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Question

How would I remove gold leaf from wood furniture?

Community Answer

Paint or varnish remover will remove gold leaf by dissolving the protective coat as well as the adhesive.

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