surface gilding on a vehichle, what would you use for a "silver leaf" aluminium? silver? or white gold?
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Aluminum leaf.
Posted by bronzeo (Member # 1408) on :
White gold. I think also a combo of white and yellow gold could look good. Isn't aluminum going to tarnish were it has been touched even under a protective clear? Most corrosive metals will even under the clears. I have used acetone to clean the contaminations on several metals that I clear coat, but that will release the size immediately.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
It depends on the color of the vehicle,...white gold has a yellowish tint to it so it would go good with a warm colored vehicle,..where as aluminum leaf is more of a blueish tint for cooler colors.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Timi is right,
White gold on a truck with a lot of silver or chrome will look like yellow gold.
Although I have never laid aluminum leaf I hear it is a little tricky, because it is thicker you might need to guild a little sooner.
(This is where those who use aluminum leaf step in and explain the process)
Posted by Cam Bortz (Member # 55) on :
Aluminum leaf varies a lot in weight; the heavier stuff is almost like foil. White gold will tarnish, slowly over time (because of the silver content) but a good clearcoat would help, and being a truck, you are likely going to clear anyway. I'd use aluminum, on size with a fairly strong tack, then outline to clean up any raggedy edges, and a good hard clearcoat.
Aluminum will tarnish slowly over time, but the tarnish is white, and not as noticeable as the brown-grey tarnish of white gold. On a truck its not likely to be an issue.
Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :
I have used aluminium leaf a few times and noticed its thick nature. Am I going to be able to turn it?
Posted by Ron Percell (Member # 399) on :
I sugges using "Silver Leaf" when water gilding on glass. I use Aluminum for all truck lettering, and I like to use the One Shot fast size, with a few drops of La Franc, it helps reduce the surface cracks. Then we follow up with 2 straight coats of frog juice. We've tried using thinner while paddle slapping, and the clear ends up cracking or buckling.
Posted by jmathel (Member # 526) on :
Ken, Aluminum leaf is by far the better choice for trucks and outdoor stuff, and yes, you can turn it. I don't think there is anything prettier than engine turned aluminum leaf numbers on a sprint car or midget under the lights of a night track.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Aluminum leaf can be turned, although not as easily as true gold. The key is the state of the tack. If you're late it won't take a good turn. The spinning has to be pretty aggressive. I use the spinnit attachments in a power drill and hammer the heck out of it If at all possible try to avoid seams, a little preplanning as far as covering the letters goes a long way, if you can't avoid seams pay close attention to "patting the leaf down where the leaf overlaps.
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Since we now all agree that Aluminum leaf was the way to go I will go abit further.
I think Aluminum leaf acts great as a base for Candies and whether it be fades or just a color change, Aluminum can be a great alternative to Gold and way less expensive even adding the candies.
Custom painters have done this in the past on real race cars and also on customs. Aluminum leaf is made for vehicles just like most any other custom coating available. When you stop experimenting, everything looks the same!
Posted by captain ken (Member # 742) on :
Hey Joey, thats the only time I used aluminium on surface before was a base for a candy, I have also done some on glass which came out nice. I have never turned it though, I might need to do a test panel to see how it spins!
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
I have used aluminum, silver and white gold. I finally got turned on to WHITE PALLADIUM by Sepp Leaf. This is by far the best choice. It is mostly 12k white gold that is absolutely pure silver in color. Like gold, it will not tarnish like the silver or aluminum.
Oh, it is available from most gold suppliers: Personally, I use New York Central Art Supply, Inc. 800-950-6111. They have an enormus catalog for the asking.
Posted by Mike Languein (Member # 319) on :
Use velvet to spin gold - Use cotton to spin aluminum.
Posted by Jerry Hudson (Member # 1995) on :
I agree with Jerry, engine turned aluminum looks great under the lights. I've done several sprint cars that run with the SCRA in Calif. using aluminum leaf. I usually clear the leaf using automotive catylized polyurathane brushed over the leaf (this dries to the touch fairly quickly), allowing the outlines to be done right away. If it's in the budget and I'm painting a complete car, I clear over everything, which lasts a lot longer, considering these cars run dirt tracks exclusively. I use a 1-1/2" foam pad covered with velvet in a drill motor to turn.
Posted by J.G. Kurtzman (Member # 1736) on :
Ken; Some good advice here, particularily from George Perkins and John Smith. I have used both Aluminum and Palladium over the last 40 years, with Palladium having an advantage over the Aluninum on smaller letters. The particians from leaf overlap is not as noticable with Palladium being softer than Aluminum, and is easier to burnish and spin. I make sure that both sides of the vehicle have equal temperature, humidity, and air currents before I adjust the quick size with boiled lindseed oil to accomodate the above. Palladium needs a higher tack than Aluminum.
