Totally inspired by Julie's gorgeous necklace I'd like to make some beads with gold leaf ;D Is this any good, or as I suspect by the price, it's not the one we can use?
http://www.artandgold.co.uk/epages/es110577.sf/en_GB/?ViewAction=View&ObjectID=2032091
looks like it
i am not so sure.. the gold content is low enough that this may the "plastic" type gold leaf for decorating etc... the international gold price is higher than this by the ounce, which can't be right?.. can it?...
edited to add - might be real leaf as i am not sure i have done my sums right?.. i bought some cheap leaf which turned to ash so i am very cautious now... they have a great range though if it is!...
Mmm....I started off by searching old forum posts and I saw that some of you had bought some which wasn't very good. I'd have probably jumped right in and bought this otherwise :-\
Quote from: Dee on November 26, 2008, 03:27:19 PM
Totally inspired by Julie's gorgeous necklace I'd like to make some beads with gold leaf
Oooh, thanks, Dee! ;D
I thought 22ct gold leaf was good enough to use, but I cannot remember which carat mine is, it's so long ago (way before i started lampworking last spring). I know there are false gold leaf on the market, but I think people have experienced this when buying from dubious ebay sellers. I also got mine off ebay, from Asia somewhere, but in their listing they went to great lengths explaining the difference between the false and the real, so I took a chance and was lucky.
Hopefully there'll be someone a lot more knowledgeable than me being able to answer your question, Dee!!
The 24ct "pure" gold leaf on your website costs just under £16 for just under 1/2 a gram. Gold price thingy website quotes £17,000/kilo-ish. That's £17 a gram. So I reckon that sounds about right given they've got to slice it up!
But, I've read that it's almost impossible to use gold leaf because it's so flimsy, and you need to use Gold Foil which is thicker. I can "do the math" but I'll leave the experts to tell you about actually using the stuff.
I have used gold leaf, the thin stuff. If you dampen your marver, or put it on several layers of wet kitchen towel, it sticks so it doesn't fly away. The paper towel will burn when you roll the bead on it, you just keep it wet. I bought tiny squares, I find I waste less that way!
That's a good tip, Mary! I've only used leaf, and I only use little squares as well, or cut into triangles.
I had some beads where the gold leaf disappeared/melted into the glass, and since then I've done the following, which seems to work:
Shape the bead, and let it cool until not glowing.
Roll it lightly in the foil, and burnish very gently.
Introduce the bead back into the upper part of the flame and heat until glowing and you can see the gold leaf cracking.
Flame anneal as normal and put in the kiln.
Ditto to what Julie has just posted. I would tend to go for the highest carat I could afford.
I like the look of the white gold - might give that a go. :)
Diane x
You lot have got expensive taste! But having seen Julie's beads and Diane's Klimt one - I can see the attraction!
Kaz
Righto then.....I'll try it! Thanks everyone, watch this space ;D
Nice one, Dee!
I bought the crappy ebay stuff before, so I've just treated myself to a book of the 24 carat gold leaf from your link. What fun ;D
I remember that crappy stuff, still got it somewhere. Should see if a card or cake maker would like it really :D
I've came across these on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=160300989994
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=190268304758
Any thoughts??
Or I also saw foil -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=280269739325
I tried offering mine to a card maker - even she didn't want it ;D ;D
Hmm, the leaf looks a bit cheap but the foil is interesting - and that seller is definitely okay. Darn, I've already bought some now :(
Quote from: Lush! on November 26, 2008, 08:22:15 PM
I tried offering mine to a card maker - even she didn't want it ;D ;D
]
That stuff is going to haunt you Julie ;D
If you paid by Paypal it isn't real money. At least that's what I told myself when I bought a nice new Kipling handbag this week :D
you tease Shirley! :D
Shes right though, there's logic in there somewhere and I'm determined to hold onto that.................she said heading off to tot up her paypal account
Darn it - I just spent some of that fake money too!
QuoteDarn it - I just spent some of that fake money too!
You're just going mad 'cause you don't have to buy a new oxycon ;D
Diane x
Yep! At least for the time being!
I am seriously considering a new torch though!
Kaz
Oooh, Kaz, which one??? ;D
I don't know - I am in a quandary! I really like the Lynx but it needs 2 oxycons - and if mine is about to die that would work out too expensive. So at the moment it is either a mega-minor or a bobcat. Though I am not sure if I can see much advantage in the bobcat (apart from its stunning good looks of course!). I'd really like the Lynx because you can adjust the flame size without twiddling with the propane and oxygen knobs. Any advice anyone? Or shall I just stick with the minor until the Flame Off? I am hopnig there may be different torches at Di's place this weekend and that may help me decide!
Kaz
Good luck with your search - I have heard both good and bad about the Lynx, but have never tried it, so couldn't say. I suppose if I were to upgrade (which I am not, hopefully my little bobcat shall stay healthy for a long time yet) I'd be drawn to the mega-minor :)
You can get the good stuff cheap on eBay (I did) though there are some sellers selling the imitation stuff as the real stuff so its pot luck!
I am just annoyed that I managed to somehow lose all of my gold leaf somewhere in my shed and I can't find it! grrrrrrrrrr!
This link looks useful, I am going to get some palladium from them:
http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/categories.php?mcid=24&
edited to say, seems like the original link is cheaper for palladium!
Hey Kaz, the Beads N Beyond competition winner gets a new torch ;)
Quote from: *rowanberry* on November 27, 2008, 12:40:27 PM
This link looks useful, I am going to get some palladium from them:
http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/categories.php?mcid=24&
edited to say, seems like the original link is cheaper for palladium!
just had a look at these whats moon gold???
yes the original links palladiun is cheaper but they dont do paypal :( i dont like using my card over the net , plus as we all know paypal is not real money :D
I was told moon gold is white gold with platinum in it (thats what Clogau said when I got my wedding ring with moon gold in it!).
Oh Sandy, shame i just put in the order for the palladium, I could have got you some and you could have paypalled me. Next time? I use the stuff up quick enough!
sounds lovely, am going to get the palladium any way, as i am doing some pale blue beads with silver in...
sandy
has anyone ordered from the original link? the artandgold place?
I just was wondering how long they take to deliver, I ordered a week ago and was wondering what the average wait for it was?
I still haven't ordered yet :-[
I got mine Claire, I'm sorry I don't remember how long it took though, 2 or 3 days I think.
I still havent received my order from the artandgold/art exchange place and looking at the order status it hasn't been even dispatched or packed. I am not impressed. It's been 2 weeks now and it was a £40 order!
Has anyone else had problems with them?
How much longer do you think I should wait? I want my gold and palladium leaf!!!
Claire - I should give them a ring.
My stuff finally came, after 2 emails moaning (which were never replied to), it came minus the palladium I ordered and was address to next door (luckily the Postman noticed). NOT impressed at all! I wont be using them again!