Gilding + Powder Coat

[false_aesthetic]

I've spent a few hours reading around the interwebs and found many conflicting answers. I'm hoping the collective might be able to point me in the right direction.

1. Is it possible to gold leaf over powder?
2. The object will be handled regularly and subject to the outdoors so a protective coating will need to go on top. Seems like spraying a clear on top might cause some issues (bubbling/peeling) and have compatibility issues with the powder.

3, 2, 1, GO!

[mnoble485]

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My sister has had a very successful business specializing in Italian Plaster, Trompe l’oeil and gold applications. I thought I would ask her. I’ve attached her comments. Feel free to ask me more questions and I will pass them on to her.

Mike

[11.4]

I did a lot of gilding once upon a time, and picked it up again once to gild some components and parts of a frame on a ultra-bling drillium vintage restoration.

Mike's sister is bang on. To help clarify a couple points, ...

1. Gilding sticks based on the sizing you have underneath it. That's basically just an adhesive coat that can be a varnish, egg whites, whatever. So the powdercoat is no problem at all. I've gilded over powdercoat, Italian lacquer, chrome, you name it. As long as it's clean and oil free so the sizing sticks well and you don't contaminate the sizing.

2. It definitely rubs off, even with clear coat. Most gilding does get a varnish over it on furniture and the like, and the high points will always rub off. I did a fork crown that was relatively protected from contact and survived well, but the seat cluster absolutely did not.

3. There are a multitude of effects one can create with gilding -- a wrinkly look (it's actually smooth but looks wrinkly), a patchwork, iridescence, and the like. It's all in how you put it on.

4. You can get fake gold sheet and then gold sheet in many colors (rose, yellow, white, deep, etc.) and different purities. The more complicated the shape you're gilding, the more you benefit from the high karat true golds. They are not that expensive because there's so little weight to the sheets.

5. Read a book on how to handle gold leaf and how to pick the right sizing. You handle gold leaf with brushes and agate tools. It doesn't take much in equipment, but when you find yourself gilding your own fingernails or the ferrule of a brush instead, you won't be happy.

There are lots of ways to use gilding once you get the few basic tools. I've gilded ceilings, window details, cabinet details in bathrooms, the inside or underside of boxes or furniture (it's a nice surprise when someone sees it), and so on. And of course a few bikes. Ferrari and Colnago had nothing on a vintage frame with gilded highlights.

[false_aesthetic]

Damnit Lane I'm pretty sure you've done everything and know everything!

Thanks ya'll I'm happy to have a direction to move.

[ides1056]

Saw some Bayliss frames that were very successfully gilt- Joe Bell?

[Paul Jacobs]

Last time I visited Field Cycles I saw a frame being finished which incorporated gold leaf in the lettering and details. That frame is now on their site.Latest : Field Cycles
(see "Mark's Road" first bike shown)