| Overview | | | | - The metal leaf will only stick to areas treated with |
| Decorative embellishments have taken the | | | | the sizing, therefore when applying the sizing to the |
| woodturning world by storm in the last few years. | | | | surface of your woodturning, make sure the desired |
| These decorative effects may include metal leafing, | | | | areas are fully covered. |
| carving of the surface, colouring work, inlays with | | | | - The metal leaf sheets are very fragile and must be |
| crushed stone, inlays with gemstones and precious | | | | handled carefully. Broken pieces, or leftover scraps |
| metals, deconstruction of the finished form, | | | | should be saved as these can be used to leaf small |
| patination, segmented forms and more. Long gone | | | | areas, or to fill in textured areas. |
| are the days when woodturnings were considered | | | | Applying The Metal Leaf |
| only as functional items for the home or workshop. | | | | - When applying the metal leaf, do not have drafts |
| Artistic and highly embellished woodturnings have | | | | or other wind blowing around your work area. This |
| raised the bar for woodturners as a whole, | | | | will make application of the metal leaf onto the |
| catapulting the art form into new and greater heights. | | | | surface much easier. |
| One of the easiest embellishments you can add to | | | | - A small soft brush, or burnishing cloth is useful for |
| your woodturnings to change the visual and tactile | | | | flattening the leaf on the surface after application. Be |
| quality of the surface, is decorative metal leaf. | | | | careful to apply the brush very lightly to the surface |
| Types Of Metal Leaf | | | | to prevent damage to the metal leaf. |
| The process of applying delicate metal sheets to the | | | | - Once application of the metal leaf has been |
| surface of an object is known as metal leafing, or | | | | completed, allow the surface to fully dry. Lightly |
| gilding and dates back to around 2500 B.C. There are | | | | brush the surface to remove any unsecured leaf and |
| numerous precious metal leaf materials available | | | | prepare the surface for the sealer coating. |
| including gold, silver and platinum. Due to the high cost | | | | - A sealer is necessary to protect the metal leaf and |
| of genuine precious metal leaf, composite metal alloys | | | | should be applied when the surface has fully dried. |
| are available that are difficult to distinguish from the | | | | The length of time necessary for the sizing to fully |
| more expensive genuine metals. These inexpensive | | | | dry will vary, according to the product used, |
| alloys allow everyone the opportunity to use metal | | | | temperature in your workshop and the underlying |
| leaf on their woodturnings. | | | | substrate. |
| Metal Leafing Tips | | | | - Experiment with various colours of leaf on your |
| - Metal leaf can be applied to the interior and exterior | | | | woodturnings for the best visual effect. There is a |
| of turned decorative pieces. Dyes can also be used in | | | | new variegated leaf available that features a |
| conjunction with the metal leaf. | | | | multi-coloured appearance, adding to the visual |
| - Metal leaf should not be used on the surfaces of | | | | beauty of the leafing. |
| any woodturning designed for food storage. | | | | Closing Thoughts |
| - A sizing or adhesive is required to make the metal | | | | The application of precious metal leaf to a turned |
| leaf stick to the desired area. This can be easily | | | | surface imparts a touch of elegance to your work |
| brushed, or sprayed on and allowed to dry until | | | | that is easy to achieve. |
| tacky. The sizing should never be allowed to fully dry. | | | | If the genuine precious metal leaf is not within your |
| If the sizing fully dries, the metal leaf will not stick to | | | | budget, many types of inexpensive man-made |
| it. | | | | composite metal leaf are available that will allow to |
| - Once the sizing has dried to a tacky state, the | | | | you achieve the same look for a lot less money. |
| metal leaf can be gently applied to the treated | | | | Metal leafing allows unlimited artistic freedom in its |
| surface with a static leafing brush, or by hand. | | | | application and use and is an easy skill to master. |