Gold leaf vanishes

cheng076 · #1 2011-11-03, 3:46pm

I don't work with 104 glass much any more but yesterday I was playing with some 104 cobalt and tried to add some gold leaf to a bead. I haven't used gold leaf before. As I reheated it in the flame all of a sudden the gold vanished. I could see it 'in' the cobalt sort of like a ghosty stain. Is this normal? does one not reheat when gold leaf is applied?

Thanks, PJH

VivianLampwork · #2 2011-11-03, 4:23pm

Gold leaf will burn off easily. Get your bead hot & burnish the gold leaf on. Then wave the bead in & out of the flame to get your gold leaf like you want it. Don't put the whole bead in the flame with a lot of heat or your gold leaf will go bye bye.

Lisi · #3 2011-11-03, 4:33pm

Oh, thanks for letting me know! I have only worked with gold foil before and it stayed on the bead, but I didn't know the leaf could burn off like that. I thought it had a higher melting temp than silver?

jeepinwelch · #4 2011-11-03, 6:14pm

In my experience it flat out disapears when the flame hits it.

bastetsbeads · #5 2011-11-03, 6:59pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisi

Oh, thanks for letting me know! I have only worked with gold foil before and it stayed on the bead, but I didn't know the leaf could burn off like that. I thought it had a higher melting temp than silver?

It does, but your torch flame is probably higher than the melting point if you are using oxy/propane.

Sterling is something like 1650 and gold is a bit higher but your flame is hotter still.

Teri · #6 2011-11-03, 7:19pm

I encase mine in clear a lot. It's so easy.
Will the gold leaf rub off without encasing?

LarryC · #7 2011-11-03, 9:06pm

It shouldnt disappear but it does melt to next to nothing

I use it fume with. I ball up a whole sheet of leaf, pick it up on a punty with a ball of cobalt and it melts down to tiny balls on the surface. Almost not noticeable. The sheets of leaf are extremely thin. When I use it in the hotshop I do as others have said. Apply it to a hot surface and burnish it in until it's smooth.

cheng076 · #8 2011-11-04, 10:01am

I am guessing the burnishing step, that I didn't do, was my downfall. Thanks for the info guys.
PJH

VivianLampwork · #9 2011-11-04, 10:24am

Gold leaf will rub off eventually without encasing. I've had beads for years & the gold looks fine. You would have to really rub on them for it to come off IMO.

Teri · #10 2011-11-05, 12:27am

Thanks, Vivian!!

truegem · #11 2011-11-05, 1:23am

When you encase it do you have to be careful not to get the bead too hot? When I've encased silver, I've gotten the bead too hot and it caused the silver to disappear, even though it's under the glass. Does this happen with gold?

PerfectDeb · #12 2011-11-05, 4:10am

Quote:

Originally Posted by truegem

When you encase it do you have to be careful not to get the bead too hot? When I've encased silver, I've gotten the bead too hot and it caused the silver to disappear, even though it's under the glass. Does this happen with gold?

Yep, you have to heat really gently